Keywordspmma implant provisionalscrew-retained tempmulti-unit provisional bridgeimplant healingpmma temporary
The healing period after implant placement is where PMMA provisionals earn their keep — soft on tissue, easy to adjust, cheap to remake.
Clinical sequence
- Mill a PMMA provisional on the temporary abutment profile.
- Seat at 2–3 weeks; keep out of occlusion to protect the site.
- Reline or remake as soft tissue matures — PMMA is forgiving.
Why not print it?
Printed temporary resin can work, but milled PMMA gives a closed, polished surface faster for a single unit and avoids post-cure steps chairside.
Our PMMA discs are graded for up to 6-month implant provisionals.
Screw-retained is safer here
An implant provisional should be screw-retained when possible: no cement in the sulcus, easy to remove for occlusal tuning. Cemented temps risk excess cement driving peri-implantitis.
| Mode | Use when |
|---|---|
| Screw-retained | Access available, multi-unit |
| Cemented | Single, no access |
Three rules
- Keep the temp out of occlusion in lateral excursion; the implant has no PDL to forgive.
- Close the occlusal screw channel with a cotton plug, not composite, for easy retrieval.
- Polish the emergence profile to guide soft tissue, not trap plaque.