When are Provisionals Necessary to Create Ideal Aesthetics in Implants?

Sunday Session

Program Track: Implants
Moderator: Jeanne M. Salcetti
Speakers: Sonia Leziy, George F. Priest, Jr.

Achieving the best likely implant esthetics requires precise steps: beginning with diagnosis, and going through to the restorative phase. Delivery of a direct provisional restoration at the time of surgical implant placement has been advocated as an essential tool to develop the transmucosal tissue architecture. However, there is discussion as to whether the fabrication of an immediate provisional ultimately makes a difference in the soft tissues framing the final restoration. Current data and clinical examples will compare delayed and immediate provisional procedures and reveal the differences, if any, between the two. More importantly, the crucial collaborative effort between the periodontist and prosthodontist/restorative dentist in optimizing soft tissue potential will be explored.