Provisional Coverage Essay

What is provisional coverage? Provisional coverage is temporary coverage made for crown and bridge preparations and worn during cast preparations. Provisionals are used when patients have bridges, crown, inlays, onlays, and porcelain veneers. Sometimes provisionals are used for complete dentures, partial dentures, and certain implant procedures. What is the purpose of provisional coverage? Provisional coverage also known as “temps” are used to help the patient make a decision about their final restoration. There are many purposes for provisional coverages. A few of the purposes are protecting the teeth that have been prepared for a final restoration, covering exposed dentin to prevent tooth sensitivity, cavities, plaque buildup and pulp problems. Indications for provisional coverages are to prevent or reduce sensitivity and discomfort of the prepared tooth and surrounding areas, to maintain the esthetics and function of the tooth, to protect the margins of the preparation and to prevent shifting of adjacent or opposing teeth. Many …show more content…
Custom provisional trays are placed in a vacuum-formed tray or a preliminary alginate impression that has been prepared for use before the dentist prepares the teeth for the final impression. Custom provisionals provide the best fitting and most natural-looking restoration. Provisionals are made in a variety of ways. Indirect and direct are the two techniques of how temporaries are made. An indirect technique requires having impressions taken of the mouth and having the temporaries made at an outside library or outside of the mouth. Since provisionals are considered to be temporary the dentist will choose the material that is best based on how long the patient needs to wear the temporaries. Some materials used in the dentist office for making temporaries are pre-formed crowns, light-cured resins or self-cured, cements or resin