Gresham Dental Provisional Restorations

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Gresham Dental Provisional Restorations

As dentistry becomes ever more advanced, certain procedures, such as dental implants can take weeks to manufacture and prepare. During this time period, it is important that the patient feels confident and can still enjoy their life while waiting for their dental work to be completed. This is where provisional restorations are regularly used.

Provisional restorations are temporary replacements which enable patients to eat properly, and also test, and try out the look and feel of their permanent prosthetic, while still having the option to alter and change the final fitting. Up until a few years ago, the quality and usefulness of provisional restorations left a lot to be desired. In all honesty, they simply filled a gap, and this was one of the factors that put many people off even considering them. However, this has all now changed, and for the short period of time that most patients will be required to wear them, there is very little noticeable difference between the look and feel of your permanent teeth, and the temporary ones you will wear in the interim.

Why Provisional Restorations are Important

Many patients are not aware of the importance provisional restorations play in the overall process, and this might be in part to previous dentists failing to explain the many benefits of them. Because they are only worn for a couple of weeks, and any measurements are taken near the end of the appointment, with little to no explanation patients are under the mistaken belief that they don’t matter. Apart from the obvious benefits of visual appearance, there are other reasons why it is important to fit provisional restorations, and it is why all of the dentists at Main Street Dental, invest the time to fit them properly, as well as explain the reasons why to our patients.

Quality Gresham provisional restorations can actually help to improve the fit and feel of the final restoration, and in the process save both the patient and the dentist considerable time by reducing the number of subsequent appointments. Crown preparations for instance are essential because they are used to cover up freshly cut dentine, and prevent any tooth movement from occurring. They are also an excellent method for your dentist to test out aesthetic and occlusal changes, before the permanent restoration is finalized. Another reason where they are beneficial is in helping the patient to eat properly while they wait for their permanent restoration to be completed.

Gresham Dental Provisional Restorations FAQ

Q: Is A Provisional Restoration Always Necessary As Part Of The Treatment Process?

A: At Main Street Dental, we will never choose a course of treatment that is unnecessary, and our aim is always to provide our patients with the highest level of service possible. If your treatment involves a new crown, bridge, veneers, or dental implants, then there is a high probability that you will need provisional restorations. We use provisional restorations to give our patients a visual representation of what their final teeth will look like, and to ensure that the fit is comfortable. They are also important to protect your teeth, while we wait for your permanent crown, or veneers to be manufactured in the laboratory.

Q: What Does The Process Of Being Fitted With A Provisional Restoration Involve?

A: To put your mind at rest, having a provisional restoration fitted is not a procedure that will cause you any pain, it is a quick and simple process. Our dental team will take physical impressions of your teeth, and utilise the benefits of digital images to ensure that the overall fit is perfect. These images and physical impressions are then sent to the laboratory who then use them to produce your temporary teeth. Once the dentist has the temporary teeth, we will book you an appointment to come in and have them fitted. Once inserted into your mouth, they will then stay firmly in place, until the time comes for your permanent teeth to be fitted.

Q: Will My Temporary Restorations Require Any Special Care Or Attention?

A: For most people, they will only need to wear their temporary teeth for a couple of weeks, although if the dental work you are undergoing is particularly challenging, then this could last for an extended period. Although the quality of temporary restorations has improved, by their very nature, they will never be as strong or durable as the permanent teeth, so that should be born in mind when making food choices, and in how you care for them. When we insert the provisional teeth for instance, we only use temporary cement, which will not provide such a strong grip, for obvious reasons. Our dentists will provide some guidance and advice on any extra precautions that you should take to protect your temporary teeth. Most of these are common sense though, such as practicing good dental hygiene, making sensible food choices and wearing a protective mouth guard, when taking part in physical sports.

Q: Will I need a provisional restoration during the course of my dental treatment?

A: You may need a provisional restoration if you are preparing to get a new crown, bridge, veneers, dental implants or some other permanent restoration. Temporaries may be put in place to ensure you are pleased with the aesthetics and fit of your new prosthetic. You may also be fit for a provisional restoration while you wait for a dental lab to finalize your permanent ones.

Q: What should I expect when being fit for a dental temporary?

A: Temporaries are constructed in a dental laboratory using impressions and digital images of your teeth. The lab will produce a ‘wax-up’ that you will approve before the temporaries are fabricated. Your dentist will prepare your teeth for the provisional restorations and temporarily attach them to your teeth, where they will remain until you are ready for your permanent restorations.

Q: Will I need to follow any special guidelines after receiving my temporary restoration?

A: You may need to wear your temporaries for just a few days or for several months depending on the type of dental reconstruction you are undergoing. Temporaries formed in place of crowns or veneers may only need to be worn for a few days to a few weeks, whereas dental implant and full-mouth reconstruction patients will need to wear provisional restorations for several months while the gums heal and the implants fuse with surrounding bone. Keep in mind that provisional restorations are less durable than permanent ones and are placed using provisional cement. Because it is possible for them to shift or become damaged, you should be careful to follow your dentist’s guidelines for caring for your temporaries – including using good oral hygiene, abiding by dietary restrictions, and using protective mouth gear during sports or high impact activity.

Provisional Restorations, are nothing to worry or concern yourself about, but they do bring many benefits. If you have any questions or concerns about the use of provisional restorations, then feel free to discuss them with your dentist before your treatment begins. We want all of our patients to be happy with their treatment, and understand the reasons behind it, so please do not be afraid to ask any questions that you might have.

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