The following technique is for maintaining the tissue shape on an implant site when lab work is being done to customize the impression abutment.
I have tried a number of materials, some with success and some, not so much. Some holds the tissue in place but is hard to remove, or distorts upon removal. I discovered that simply placing an alginate plug into the abutment site works great.
I mixed up a looser mix than I normally would for an impression so that I could get it into a monojet syringe and express it into the site as soon as the provisional was removed. Once set, it is easily removed and replaced holding the tissue where it needs to be. I can now take my time fabricating and shaping the custom impression abutment without the worry of the tissue distorting and bleeding.
Mary Anne Salcetti, DDS, PC, Spear Education Visiting Faculty. www.maryannesalcettidds.com