Chairside temporaries are made in the office at the prep appointment and carry the patient through a short interim. Milled PMMA temporaries are made by the lab from the scan or impression, so margins, contacts, and bite are more consistent, and the shape can be tested before the final restoration. Order PMMA for longer provisional phases, bridges, esthetic try-ins, and implant cases where the temporary shapes the tissue. At ArtyCad, crown and bridge PMMA takes up to 5 business days and implant PMMA 7–10 business days.
When a chairside temporary is enough
A chairside temporary is enough for a single crown when the final restoration follows soon and there is nothing to test: no change in shape, length, or bite, and no tissue to shape around an implant.
When to order milled PMMA
Order milled PMMA when the provisional phase is longer, when a short-span bridge needs to stay stable, or when you want to test shape, length, and basic esthetics before the final restoration. Because the lab mills it to the design, the patient wears a preview of the final case, and changes are easier to agree on before the final material. See PMMA Temporaries for crown and bridge.
A milled provisional is also a preview: shape, length, and bite can be agreed on before the final restoration.
Milled PMMA provisionalThe shape is tried in the mouth
Final restorationThe same design in the final material
| Chairside temporary | Milled PMMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Made | In the office, at the prep appointment. | In the lab, from the scan or impression. |
| Fit | Depends on the chairside matrix and time. | Milled to the design, so margins, contacts, and bite stay consistent. |
| Testing the design | Limited. | Shape, length, and bite can be checked before the final case. |
| Typical use | A short interim for a single crown. | Longer provisional phases, short-span bridges, esthetic try-ins, and treatment planning. |
| Implant cases | Not designed around the tissue. | Contours help shape the tissue and guide the emergence profile. |
| Turnaround | Same visit. | Up to 5 business days; implant PMMA 7–10 business days. |
| Rush | Not applicable. | $50 per unit. |
Implant temporaries: shaping the emergence
On implants, the provisional does more than protect: its contours help shape the tissue and guide the emergence profile, and it lets the team evaluate occlusion and esthetics before the final restoration is planned. The provisional can then communicate contours, function, and esthetic goals for the final case. See PMMA Temporaries for implant restorations.
Records to send
- Tooth numbers and shade
- Prep, opposing, and bite records
- Photos when esthetics matter
- For implants: implant details, scan body information, and the desired tissue contour
- A completed RX and the due date
Send scans through Submit Digital Case, or download the RX on Download RX and ship physical records with free PDS pickup in New York City and New Jersey or a free UPS label from other states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a PMMA temporary stay in?
The dentist sets the provisional period for each case. PMMA is a provisional material: it carries the case while the final restoration is planned and made, not in place of it.
Can PMMA temporaries be made from a scan?
Yes. Digital scans work well when the prep, opposing, and bite records are clear.
Can you make PMMA bridges?
Yes, for provisional crowns and short-span bridges.
Can the temporary guide the final restoration?
Yes. It helps evaluate shape, contour, and bite, and on implants it helps shape the tissue and the emergence profile.
How long do PMMA temporaries take?
Up to 5 business days for crown and bridge and 7–10 business days for implant cases. Rush service is available for $50 per unit.
