The Esthetic and Psychologic Benefits of an Intraoperative Provisional Restoration.

Abstract

When multiple visible teeth are prepared, the prolonged treatment time may lead to patients needing a break that requires them to leave the operatory. Such a situation allows the patient to view their prepared teeth, a process that can be disconcerting to some patients. An intraoperative provisional restoration can be made by using a thermoplastic vacuum-formed matrix of the patient's teeth that is filled with white-colored impression material and then placed over the prepared teeth to form a provisional restoration. The use of an intraoperative provisional restoration can be effectively used to cover prepared teeth while providing normal tooth morphology and facial appearance after preparation of visible teeth. When visible teeth are prepared, an intraoperative provisional restoration can be used to cover the prepared teeth and prevent concerned patients from viewing their prepared teeth. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:189-192, 2017).