Provisionalization
Pronunciation: pruh-VIH-zhun-uh-LY-ZAY-shun
The fabrication and placement of a temporary restoration on an implant to maintain esthetics, function, and soft-tissue contour during the healing phase.
Full Definition
Provisionalization refers to the process of providing a temporary prosthetic restoration—typically an acrylic or composite crown or bridge—supported by an implant or implant abutment during the osseointegration and tissue-maturation period. It serves to preserve esthetic appearance, guide the emergence profile of the peri-implant soft tissues, and maintain phonetics and occlusal relationships. Provisionalization may be immediate (placed at the time of implant surgery) or delayed (placed after initial healing). Editors should distinguish 'provisionalization' from 'temporization,' which in some clinical dialects refers to temporary restorations on natural teeth rather than implants, and should note that 'immediate provisionalization' and 'immediate loading' are related but not synonymous—loading implies functional occlusal contact.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish between 'immediate provisionalization' (crown placed at surgery) and 'immediate loading' (crown placed in functional occlusion); specify which is intended in clinical documents.
In Context
- "Provisionalization with a screw-retained acrylic crown allowed the clinician to shape the peri-implant tissue prior to delivery of the final ceramic restoration." — Restorative dentistry case report
- "The protocol for provisionalization must specify whether the temporary crown is placed in or out of functional occlusion." — Clinical guideline