A direct approach for fabrication of a provisional restoration immediately after tooth preparation for custom cast...

When a tooth is fractured at the gingival level due to accidental trauma and there is insufficient coronal tooth structure to retain a crown, a custom cast dowel and core often is necessary, followed by the fabrication of a definitive crown. It is very difficult to fabricate the provisional restoration for a tooth until the custom cast dowel and core are cemented permanently. This article describes a direct procedure for fabricating a provisional restoration (with a prefabricated temporary titanium post and an acrylic resin denture tooth) immediately after the tooth has been prepared for a custom cast dowel and core. This technique produces excellent clinical results while being less time-consuming than an indirect approach.