Losing a tooth is one thing. Walking around without one while you wait for your implant to heal is another. For many patients, the gap left behind, whether in a visible spot or not, feels like a constant reminder of the process they’re in the middle of. The good news is that gap doesn’t have to stay empty while osseointegration takes its course.
At Precision Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, we offer implants with temporary teeth as part of our approach to oral surgery and tooth replacement here in New Smyrna Beach. Dr. James Kortbus and our team understand that patients have lives to live during treatment, and a provisional restoration can make that a lot easier.
What “Implants with Temporary Teeth” Actually Means
When most people think of dental implants, they picture a multi-step process spread over several months. You have the tooth removed, a post placed into the jaw, a healing period while the implant fuses to the bone, and then a permanent crown at the end. That timeline is real, and in many cases, it’s the right approach. But it doesn’t mean you have to go without a tooth the entire time.
A temporary restoration, sometimes called a provisional crown or immediate provisionalization, is a placeholder tooth placed on or near the implant while healing takes place. It fills the space, protects the site, and helps shape the surrounding gum tissue as it heals. The result is a more natural emergence profile by the time your permanent crown goes in. Research published in Case Reports in Dentistry has documented favorable outcomes for immediate implant placement with chairside provisionalization, particularly in visible areas of the mouth.
Provisional vs. Permanent: What’s the Difference?
The temporary tooth is not your final restoration. It’s a functional placeholder made to look and feel relatively normal, but it’s designed to be removed and replaced once the implant has fully integrated with your jawbone. Provisional restorations are typically not used for heavy chewing and require a bit of extra care. Your permanent crown, milled in-house at our practice using our CAD/CAM digital dentistry technology, is what you’ll have for the long term.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Approach?
Not every implant patient is a candidate for a temporary tooth right away. Candidacy depends on a few key factors that Dr. Kortbus evaluates at the start of treatment, including bone volume, the health of the surrounding tissue, and how stable the implant feels immediately after placement. When certain conditions are met, placing a provisional restoration the same day as the implant is a reasonable and well-supported option.
In general, patients who tend to do well with this approach share some common characteristics. These include
- Adequate bone density at the implant site to support initial stability
- Good overall oral health, with no active infection or significant gum disease
- A missing tooth in a visible area where aesthetics matter during healing
- Realistic expectations about how to care for a provisional restoration
- A commitment to follow-up appointments during the osseointegration period
If these criteria aren’t met, Dr. Kortbus may recommend waiting before placing any provisional restoration. The goal is always a result that holds up over time, not a shortcut that creates complications down the road.
How We Evaluate and Plan Your Implant Treatment
Planning is what separates a predictable implant outcome from an unpredictable one. At our practice, we use a cone beam CT (CBCT) scan to evaluate your bone structure in three dimensions before placing any implant. This gives Dr. Kortbus a precise view of bone height, width, and density at the planned site, which directly informs whether a provisional restoration is a safe and stable option for you.
We also use the Dentsply Sirona PrimeScan intraoral scanner to capture digital impressions, which means no goopy trays and a more accurate fit for your provisional. Keeping as much of this process in-house, from imaging to planning to fabrication, is part of how we control quality at every step. When an implant is placed in the right position from the start, the final crown fits better and the whole restorative process goes more smoothly. Dr. Kortbus, a member of both the American Dental Association and the Florida Dental Association who trained at NYU College of Dentistry, brings that level of attention to every case our New Smyrna Beach practice handles.
What to Expect During Healing
Once your implant and provisional tooth are in place, osseointegration, the process of the implant post fusing with the surrounding bone, typically takes several months. During that time, you’ll have scheduled check-ins so we can monitor the implant, adjust your provisional if needed, and confirm the tissue is healing the way it should. You’ll be asked to avoid biting down hard on the temporary tooth and to follow specific cleaning instructions to keep the area healthy.
When the implant has fully integrated, we’ll move to your final restoration. Using our in-house milling system, we can often fabricate that permanent crown the same day it’s needed. Patients coming in from Edgewater, Port Orange, and the surrounding Volusia County area can access our full implant workflow, including restorative dentistry at every stage, without traveling to multiple providers.
Schedule a Consultation at Precision Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
If you’re exploring dental implants and want to understand whether a temporary tooth may be part of your treatment, the place to start is a consultation. Dr. Kortbus will review your bone density with CBCT imaging, walk through the full implant timeline with you, and help you decide whether immediate provisionalization fits your specific situation. We offer financing options including CareCredit and Cherry to help make treatment accessible, alongside our in-house membership plan.
You shouldn’t have to choose between getting the implant you need and feeling confident during the months it takes to heal. Contact our office today to request your appointment and learn what implant treatment looks like at our practice.