Single tooth immediate provisional restoration of dental implants: Technique and early results

Purpose Patients desire efficient restoration of missing teeth. Immediate provisionalization of implants at the time of placement can provide the patient with a tooth-like restoration. Our hypothesis is that preoperative fabrication of the implant abutment and provisional restoration can provide successful immediate provisionalization of implants, if specific diagnostic criteria are used for patient selection. Patients and methods This hypothesis is evaluated by prospectively following 74 implants thus treated for 6 months to 2 years. A technique is presented to illustrate a simple and reliable method to provisionally restore a single tooth restoration. The method involves preoperative placement of an implant analog into a model, preparation of the abutment on the model, and fabrication of a provisional crown out of occlusion. At the time of surgery, the implant is placed according to the prescription of the restorative dentist, the surgeon places the abutment and provisional crown, and the final restoration is fabricated after the implant integrates. Results Seventy of 74 (94.6%) restorations have been successful with up to 2-year follow-up, which is similar to single tooth implants treated using a 2-stage protocol. Conclusions Single tooth immediate provisionalization implants are effective techniques when specific diagnostic criteria are used.