THE PROVISIONAL TRANSITIONAL PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION OF EDENTULOUS PATIENTS WITH PERIODONTAL PATHOLOGY

Aim of the study: The aim of this review was to assess the functional and clinical results of temporary transitional prosthetic rehabilitation in edentulous patients with underlying periodontal disease, with an emphasis on its effects in preparing the patients for permanent prosthetic therapy. Material and methods: This review was conducted in order to synthesize the current knowledge on the provisional transitional prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous patients with periodontal pathology. Using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, a thorough search of the literature was conducted, encompassing publications published between 2000 and 2024. To find pertinent papers, keywords such as “edentulous patients,” “periodontal disease,” “tissue health and healing,” and “provisional rehabilitation” were utilized. The inclusion criteria were: peer-reviewed articles discussing provisional prosthetic rehabilitation in edentulous patients; studies focusing on patients with a history of periodontal pathology; reviews, case reports, and clinical studies addressing transitional prosthetics. Articles that lacked adequate clinical description or were not published in English were excluded. After titles, abstracts, and complete texts were screened for relevancy, 20 papers in total were included. Conclusions: Provisional restorations are a vital step in the prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous patients with periodontal pathology. They promote tissue health, guide periodontal healing, and ensure functional and aesthetic success while preventing complications. By carefully selecting appropriate materials and ensuring precision in design and adaptation, provisional restorations create the foundation for successful definitive prosthetic outcomes and long-term periodontal stability. The provisional materials also present with drawbacks, of which the clinician must be aware of and prepared to minimise.