Temporary Shell Proof-of-Concept Technique: Digital-Assisted Workflow to Enable Customized Immediate Function in Two Visits in Partially Edentulous Patients

The growing interest in minimally invasive implant placement and delivery of a prefabricated provisional prosthesis immediately, thus minimizing "time to teeth," has led to the development of numerous 3-dimensional (3D) planning software programs. Given the enhancements associated with fully digital workflows, such as better 3D soft-tissue visualization and virtual tooth rendering, computer-guided implant surgery and immediate function has become an effective and reliable procedure. This article describes how modern implant planning software programs provide a comprehensive digital platform that enables efficient interplay between the surgical and restorative aspects of implant treatment. These new technologies that streamline the overall digital workflow allow transformation of the digital wax-up into a personalized, CAD/CAM-milled provisional restoration. Thus, collaborative digital workflows provide a novel approach for time-efficient delivery of a customized, screw-retained provisional restoration on the day of implant surgery, resulting in improved predictability for immediate function in the partially edentate patient.