Provisionals

The provisional isn't a patch — it's the bridge between surgery and definitive restoration.

TrazaLab structures every provisional case so the lab knows arch, implant system, multi-unit type, Shimbashi, shade, and screw access — before opening a single file.

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3-6

months duration

CAD/CAM

milled PMMA

titanium cylinders

Multi

multilayer color

Provisional Types

Four types. Each with its moment.

Each provisional type serves a different clinical phase. TrazaLab captures the right fields for each one — so nothing is assumed.

Screw-Retained PMMA

CAD/CAM milled from multilayer PMMA puck. Screw-retained on multi-unit abutments. The workhorse of full-arch provisionals — high strength, predictable fit, 3-6 month durability.

110 MPa flexural strength

Al-Aali et al. 2022 — PMID 34853238

Cemented PMMA

Cemented provisional for single crowns and short bridges during healing. Milled or pressed PMMA. Used when screw access is not possible or for natural tooth provisionals.

80-120 MPa milled

Zygogiannis et al. 2022 — PMID 35808735

3D Printed

Resin-based, DLP/SLA printed. Fast turnaround for surgical guides and short-term temporary restorations. Lower strength than milled PMMA — best for weeks, not months.

60-80 MPa flexural strength

Zygogiannis et al. 2022 — PMID 35808735

Immediate Provisional

Chairside or pre-fabricated. Placed same day as extraction or implant placement. Bis-acrylic or flowable composite. Short-term solution while the definitive provisional is milled.

40-60 MPa bis-acrylic

Abiodun-Solanke et al. — PMID 27383707

Platform

This is how a provisional case arrives at your lab

The surgeon fills out the provisional prescription in TrazaLab. You receive the complete case: arch, implant system, multi-unit type, Shimbashi, shade, tooth mold, screw access — and all files attached.

No phone call. No WhatsApp audio. No guessing what multi-unit angle was used. Everything structured, everything in one place.

trazalab.com/orden/3042

It's not temporary. It's diagnostic.

The provisional phase is where the definitive case is won or lost. Four reasons why it matters more than most surgeons think.

Verifies Occlusion

Tests VDO, centric relation, canine guidance before committing to definitive. Problems caught here cost 10x less to fix than in final zirconia.

Evaluates Esthetics

Patient sees the result in their mouth, provides feedback on tooth shape, shade, and position. Adjustments happen in PMMA, not in the definitive material.

Enables Healing

Soft tissue matures around the provisional, creating proper emergence profile. The gingival architecture shapes itself to the provisional contour over 3-6 months.

Reduces Remakes

Problems caught in provisional phase cost a fraction of what they cost in definitive. The provisional is the test drive — the definitive is the delivery.

Materials

Material specs: what the data says

Not marketing claims. Published data comparing the four main provisional materials by method, strength, and clinical application.

Material	Method	Flexural Strength	Duration	Best For
PMMA Multilayer	CAD/CAM Milled	80-120 MPa	3-6 months	Full arch provisional, screw-retained
PMMA Monochrome	CAD/CAM Milled	80-120 MPa	1-3 months	Single crowns, bridges
3D Print Resin	DLP / SLA	60-80 MPa	1-4 weeks	Surgical guides, short-term temp
Bis-Acrylic	Chairside	40-60 MPa	Days-weeks	Immediate chairside provisional

3D printed resins are NOT recommended for long-term provisionals (>4 weeks). Flexural strength degrades significantly with thermocycling. For full-arch provisionals lasting 3-6 months, CAD/CAM milled PMMA is the evidence-based choice.

Sources: Zygogiannis et al. 2022 — PMID 35808735; Al-Aali et al. 2022 — PMID 34853238

Clinical Data

Numbers, not promises

Every number below comes from published research. Click the source to verify on PubMed.

Provisional success rate

When properly designed with CAD/CAM workflow and adequate material selection.

Alt et al. 2015 →

0 MPa

PMMA flexural strength

CAD/CAM milled PMMA — significantly stronger than bis-acrylic (40-60 MPa) or 3D printed resin.

Al-Aali et al. 2022 →

Shrinkage in milled PMMA

Zero polymerization shrinkage in CAD/CAM milled PMMA — vs significant shrinkage in autopolymerized materials.

Ayman 2021 →

0 mo

Typical wear duration

3-6 months typical wear for full-arch PMMA provisional before transition to definitive restoration.

Burns et al. 2003 →

Prescription Flow

The surgeon's prescription, step by step

Seven structured fields. No free-text guessing. The surgeon selects, the lab receives — complete and validated.

Arch Selection

Upper, Lower, or Both. Determines scan requirements and file expectations downstream.

Provisional Type

PMMA Screw-Retained, PMMA Cemented, or Temporary Denture. Each type triggers different validation rules and field requirements.

Implant System

Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Neodent, Osstem, or other. Determines compatible components and titanium cylinder selection.

Multi-Unit Type

Straight, 17°, or 30° angulated. Critical for screw access direction and provisional seating. Wrong angle = remake.

Shimbashi + VDO Photo

Vertical dimension measurement in millimeters with mandatory VDO reference photo. The photo gate ensures the measurement is documented — not guessed.

Shade Selection

VITA Classical shade (A1-D4) with mandatory shade reference photo. Multilayer PMMA pucks match the selected shade with natural gradient from cervical to incisal.

Tooth Mold + Screw Access

Tooth shape (square, ovoid, square-rounded) and screw access direction (palatal, occlusal, buccal). Both affect the final design and patient comfort.

Quality Control

Validation before milling

Provisional-specific checks the lab runs before starting CAD design. Structured in TrazaLab so nothing is missed.

Scan & Files

Full arch scan coverage — no missing tissue areas

Multi-unit abutments visible and scannable in STL

Bite registration scan included

VDO & Shade

VDO photo uploaded — measurement matches Shimbashi value

Shade photo matches selection — no overcompression

Prescription

Implant system confirmed — compatible Ti cylinder available

Multi-unit type and angle specified

Tooth mold and screw access direction confirmed

Design Readiness

Screw access direction compatible with tooth mold selection

PMMA puck shade in stock for selected color

Evidence

Scientific references

All clinical data on this page comes from peer-reviewed studies and systematic reviews.

Zygogiannis K, Arifaj B, The G, Current M. Physical and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Provisional Crowns and Fixed Dental Prosthesis Resins Compared to CAD/CAM Milled and Conventional Provisional Resins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Polymers. 2022;14(14):2810. PMID 35808735

Al-Aali KA, Al These AM, Al-Aali SO. Comparison of the flexural and surface properties of milled, 3D-printed, and heat polymerized PMMA resins for denture bases: An in vitro study. J Prosthodont Res. 2022;66(3):502-508. PMID 34853238

Alt V, By M, Al Formal G, et al. First clinical experiences with CAD/CAM-fabricated PMMA-based fixed dental prostheses as long-term temporaries. Clin Oral Investig. 2015;20(1):161-237. PMID 25898895

Burns DR, Beck DA, Nelson SK. A review of selected dental literature on contemporary provisional fixed prosthodontic treatment: report of the Committee on Research in Fixed Prosthodontics. J Prosthet Dent. 2003;90(5):474-497. PMID 17969293

Next step

Ready to manage provisionals with verified data?

Start with a provisional case. See how it feels when arch, implant system, multi-unit type, Shimbashi, and shade arrive structured — before you open CAD.