Fabrication of provisional

acrylic resin restorations

Saul Weiner, D.D.S.*

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, Newark, N.J.

he dental literature has numerous descriptions of

techniques for fabrication of provisional restorations.-
One technique that has enjoyed considerable popularity is the use of a vacuum-formed matrix filled with
acrylic resin that is placed onto the abutment teeth,
allowed to harden, contoured, and completed.8 Preston
expanded the usefulness of this technique in situations
with broken-down teeth or edentulous spaces.
This article describes a technique that uses silicone
putty impression material and reduces the number of
steps involved in provisional restoration fabrication. It
is indicated for situations in which the existing axial
contours or the occlusion of the teeth to be restored
requires extensive modification.

Fig. 1. Silicone putty impression of abutment teeth

with an occlusal registration of opposing occlusion.

PROCEDURE
1. Thoroughly mix the catalyst and base of a
silicone putty material and form into a roll. Mold
around the teeth to be restored and include an additional tooth anteriorly and posteriorly if possible. The
patient should close the teeth together in the intercuspal position to record an imprint of the opposing
occlusion (Fig. 1).
2. Remove the impression from the patients mouth
after the silicone has hardened, and box both sides of
the impression with baseplate wax. Pour a cast of the
occlusal imprim side in dental stone and allow to
harden. Withou! separating the first cast, invert and
pour a cast of the impression of the teeth to be restored
and allow it to harden.
3. Remove the boxing wax and mount the impression with the unseparated casts on a simple articulator
(Fig. 2). It is important that there be some means of
maintaining the vertical dimension of occlusion: either
an incisal pin on the articulator or teeth on the casts
that are in occlusal contact and will not be modified.
4. After the mounting medium has hardened, separate the casts from the impression.
5. Modify the axial contours and occlusion with
inlay wax (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2. Poured impression is mounted on an articulator prior to removal of casts from impression.

Fig. 3. Modification of occlusion and axial contours,

including placement of pontics, is completed. A new
silicone matrix has been taken.

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WEINER

6. Lightly lubricate the modified cast with petroleum jelly and make a new silicone matrix, including
one tooth anterior and one tooth posterior to the teeth to
be restored if possible. An occlusal imprint of the
opposing occlusion is not needed.
7. The new silicone matrix can be used intraorally
to fabricate the transitional restoration by filling it with
acrylic resin and placing it on the abutment teeth; or it
can be used to prepare a prefabricated restoration in
the laboratory.9

axial and occlusal tooth contours to be accurately

reproduced in transitional restorations.
REFERENCES
1. Federick, D. R.: The provisional fixed partial denture. J
PROSTHU
DENT 34:520, 1975.
2. Talkov, L.: The copper band splint. J PROSTHET DENT 6:245,
1956.

3.
4.

DISCUSSION
This technique combines the diagnostic impression
and the occlusal registration in one step. It also
eliminates the need to make a new cast of the modified
tooth contours, as the silicone impression itself can be
used to fabricate the transitional restoration. This
procedure has been used in situations of varying
complexity: from a three-unit fixed partial denture to
an eight-unit splint that involved both anterior teeth
and premolars. The articulator used is dependent on
the occlusal scheme desired. Unless the number of teeth
to be restored is quite extensive or a group function
occlusal scheme is desired, a simple articulator will
suffice. In situations in which the occlusal plane is to be
extensively altered, it is best to register an impression of
the entire crowns of the opposing dentition to visualize
the occlusal plane.

5.

6.

7.
8.

9.

Amsterdam, M.. and Fox, L.: Provisional splinting principles

and techniques. Dent Clin North Am 3~73, 1959.
Fisher, D. W., Shillingburg, If. T., and Dewhirst, R. B.:
Indirect temporary restorations. J Am Dent Assoc 82:160,
1971.
Nayyar, A., and Edwards, W. S.: Fabrication of a single
anterior intermediate restoration. J PROSTHET DENT 39:574,
1978.
Nayyar, A., and Edwards, W. S.: Fabrication of a single
posterior intermediate restoration. J PR~STHET DENT 39~688,
1978.
Krug, R. S.: Temporary resin crowns and bridges. Den1 Clin
North Am 19:313, 1975.
Solera, A. J.: h direct technique for fabricating acrylic resin
temporary rrowns using the Omnivac. J PROSTHET DENT
29:577, 1973.
Preston, J. D.: A systemic approach to the comrol of esthetic
form. J PROSTMT DEST 35393, 1976.

12rpnn1rryuesl lo:
DK. SAUL

WEINER

UNIVERSITY
NEW

OP MEDICINE

JERSEY

100 BERGEN

SUMMARY

NEWARK,

DENTAL

ASD

DENTISTRY

OF NEW

JERSEY

SCHOOL

ST.

NJ 07103

A technique for transitional restoration fabrication

has been described. It permits modifications of existing

DECEMBER

1983

VOLUME

50

NUMBER