title: The use of definitive implant abutments for the fabrication of provisional crowns: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anterior region is a challenge for most clinicians to achieve optimal esthetics with dental implants. The provisional crown is a key factor in the success of obtaining pink esthetics around restorations with single implants, by soft tissue and inter-proximal papilla shaping. Provisional abutments bring additional costs and make the treatment more expensive. Since one of the aims of the clinician is to reduce costs and find more economic ways to raise patient satisfaction, this paper describes a practical method for chair-side fabrication of non-occlusal loaded provisional crowns used by the authors for several years successfully.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two patients (9 males, 13 females; mean age, 36,72 years) with one missing anterior tooth were treated by using the presented method. Metal definitive abutments instead of provisional abutments were used and provisional crowns were fabricated on the definitive abutments for all of the patients. The marginal fit was finished on a laboratory analogue and temporarily cemented to the abutments. The marginal adaptation of the crowns was evaluated radiographically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients were all satisfied with the final appearance and no complications occurred until the implants were loaded with permanent restorations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the definitive abutments for provisional crowns instead of provisional abutments reduces the costs and the same results can be obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bilhan
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Geckili
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mumcu
references.citation: Periodontol 2000. 1998 Jun;17:132-50
references.pmid: 10337321
references.citation: Clin Oral Implants Res. 2010 May;21(5):527-34
references.pmid: 20443804
references.citation: Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2010 Mar-Apr;25(2):357-66
references.pmid: 20369096
references.citation: J Oral Implantol. 2010;36(2):153-7
references.pmid: 20426593
references.citation: J Periodontol. 2001 Oct;72(10):1364-71
references.pmid: 11699478
references.citation: Br Dent J. 2006 Aug 26;201(4):199-205
references.pmid: 16936671
references.citation: Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2009 Jul-Aug;24(4):684-8
references.pmid: 19885409
references.citation: J Periodontol. 2006 Nov;77(11):1914-20
references.pmid: 17076619
references.citation: J Oral Implantol. 2006;32(4):182-9
references.pmid: 17009563
references.citation: Int J Prosthodont. 2010 Jul-Aug;23(4):299-309
references.pmid: 20617217
references.citation: J Oral Implantol. 2009;35(2):75-81
references.pmid: 19400062
references.citation: Dent Today. 2010 Jun;29(6):102, 106, 108-9
references.pmid: 20565027
references.citation: J Calif Dent Assoc. 2005 Apr;33(4):303-10
references.pmid: 15915881
references.citation: Compend Contin Educ Dent. 1995 Aug;16(8):778, 780, 782-4 passim; quiz 788
references.pmid: 8620396
references.citation: Pract Periodontics Aesthet Dent. 1996 Nov-Dec;8(9):875-83; quiz 884
references.pmid: 9242147
references.citation: Clin Oral Implants Res. 2008 Oct;19(10):991-6
references.pmid: 18828814