To place provisionals or not--that is the question

Porcelain labial veneers are quite possibly the most esthetic restorations that can be provided today. Their esthetic qualities are derived not only from the accurate replication of tooth structure, but also from the superior tissue response they elicit. Many of the procedures surrounding this restoration have become almost standardized in terms of preparation and the manner in which the restoration is made to become part of the tooth. But why experts who lecture about this procedure remain at odds about whether provisional restorations are necessary is baffling. As more tooth preparation became increasingly necessary to achieve the ultimate in esthetics and health, use of the provisional restoration was not incorporated, simply as a matter of established routine.