Chairside Fabrication of Acrylic Temporary Crown

Background: Temporary crowns are an essential part of treatment, serving to protect the prepared tooth, maintain periodontal health, and preserve function during the fabrication of the definitive crown. While bis-acryl composite systems have become the predominant material for chairside temporisation in both undergraduate training and general practice, familiarity with chairside acrylic resin technique has diminished. Aim: This article revisits the chairside fabrication of acrylic temporary crowns, with particular emphasis on clinical situations where acrylic resin may offer advantages over bis-acryl materials. Clinical relevance: The increasing adoption of minimally invasive dentistry has led to more conservative crown preparations where acrylic resin may provide superior fracture resistance compared to bis-acryl systems. Acrylic temporaries may also be preferable in patients with parafunctional habits, extended temporisation periods, cases with significant gingival inflammation, and temporary bridges subject to flexural loading. Technique: A step-by-step chairside technique is described, covering pre-preparation impression taking, tooth preparation considerations, mixing and loading of self-curing acrylic resin, monitoring of the setting stages, and crown finishing, adjustment, and cementation. Conclusion: Chairside acrylic temporary crowns represent a clinically relevant and cost-effective option for the temporisation of conservative preparations. Although more technique-sensitive than bis-acryl alternatives, the method is readily applicable in general practice. As minimally invasive approaches continue to grow in popularity, proficiency with acrylic resin temporisation remains a valuable skill for the general dental practitioner.