An Easy Provisional Technique

We have provisional materials available like Fermit or EasyTemp or even bisacryl materials to plug the inlay/onlay preps.

The down side of Fermit-like materials is that they wear on the occlusal and in the contact area. The upside of bisacryl materials is that they're strong enough not to wear; however, they're difficult to remove from the tooth.

This technique combines the ease of removal with the Fermit but the strength and stability of the bisacryl.

I place Fermit into the base of the prep and halfway up the proximal box and cure it. Then I seat the bisacryl material in an index like a triple tray over the tooth to capture the contact and the occlusal half, and let it set. I polish the margins smooth and that's it.

The bonus is the removal. I place a slot cut on the occlusal and lift out the bisacryl and the Fermit.

MaryAnne Salcetti, DDS, PC, Spear Education Visiting Faculty [ www.maryannesalcettidds.com ]