FAQ
What does a lab-fabricated provisional cost?
A straight answer first, then the context behind it, from the technicians who do the work.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Lab-fabricated provisionals typically range from $80 to $200 per unit depending on material, case complexity, and whether the case involves a single tooth or a full-arch span. PMMA milled provisionals sit toward the higher end of that range. Custom shade characterization, implant-level emergence shaping, and multi-unit spans add to the base fee. Chair-time savings on delivery day usually offset the lab fee.
THE CONTEXT
What sits behind it
For restorative dentists managing crown or implant cases, the fabrication method drives cost more than anything else. A chairside bis-acryl provisional costs almost nothing in material but takes 20 to 40 minutes of chair time to build, trim, and polish. A milled PMMA provisional from a dental lab arrives polished, contoured, and ready to seat in under five minutes. The time trade-off is real: at a typical production rate of $500 to $800 per chair hour, a $150 lab fee pays for itself if it saves 20 minutes.
Prosthodontists working full-arch implant cases use lab provisionals differently. A screw-retained PMMA provisional on four to six implants is a diagnostic tool: it tests occlusion, confirms emergence profiles, and establishes the esthetic blueprint before the final restoration is milled. That kind of provisional can run $300 to $600 for the full arch, but it eliminates the single most common cause of full-arch remakes, which is an esthetic rejection at delivery. One prevented remake more than covers the provisional investment.
Dani Dental quotes provisionals line-item on every case prescription form. There is no bundled ambiguity. Turnaround on standard single-unit provisionals is two business days; full-arch provisionals are quoted per case with a confirmed ship date at the time of case acceptance.
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What does a lab-fabricated provisional cost?
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