Temporary Crown Materials

Temporary crown materials provide interim restorations that protect prepared teeth, maintain occlusion, and preserve aesthetics while permanent restorations are being fabricated. These materials must be easy to place and remove, provide adequate strength for short-term use, and offer acceptable aesthetics, particularly for anterior teeth. Bis-acryl composite is the most widely used material for temporary crowns and bridges. It is dispensed from a cartridge through a mixing tip, injected into a matrix or stent, and sets through chemical or dual curing. Bis-acryl temporaries offer good aesthetics, strength, and marginal adaptation. PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) is another common option, available in powder-liquid or cartridge forms. Prefabricated polycarbonate and stainless steel crowns are available for chairside use when time is limited. CAD/CAM-milled PMMA and composite blocks produce temporary restorations with superior fit and aesthetics, increasingly used for long-term provisional restorations during complex treatment sequences. Temporary cement with moderate retention allows the provisional to be easily removed at the delivery appointment.