Temporary Cement for my Permanent Implant Crown?

It is common to use temporary cement to cement a dental crown over a dental implant.  Temporary cement with these crowns typically lasts for years, but are easier to remove should the screw loosen that attaches the implant to the abutment.  Should it ever come off you would have it cemented again.  Hope this helps. 

This isn't a bad thing, but it is a result of how things USED to be.  Since screws don't get loose anymore, we don't NEED to use temporary cement anymore, but it is common and not a big deal.

One of the things that's unique about dental implants is that unlike natural teeth, individual parts can often be removed and replaced without the need to replace everything. Years ago, most implant crowns were held in place with a screw, and were easily removed. Today, most implant crowns are cemented into place just like any other crown.
Because implant parts are computer milled and are very accurate, the fit of an implant crown is quite good
and often doesn't require the same type of cement a crown on a natural tooth would. For this reason, some dentists use a softer, temporary type cement on implant crowns, in the hope that they will be easier to remove if it is ever necessary. Not unusual at all.

There are many 'Temporary Cements' one can use to glue in the crown part of a Implant Crown.  Rarely do the crowns come off but if we need to tighten a screw or change the color or fit we have the availablitly to do so with a less adhesive glue. It is a very common practice.

Dear Bonbonmilk:

Temporary and permanent are relative terms and are NOT scientific terminology.  The question is of relative STRENGTH of the cement used.

For natural teeth, usually we try and use the strongest type of cement, and there are several different kinds.  We want to make sure that the cement does not leak out and as a result, the tooth can decay underneath.  In addition, we generally do not want to be able to remove the crown after it is cemented on the tooth.  This is why people refer to it as "permanent" cement.  The correct term should be: final cement.

On implants, since there are components which can loosen (the screw), or break (the abutment), the flexibility of being able to remove the implant crown off of the abutment is desirable.   Hence, most implant crowns are usually cemented with the weakest cement medium possible.  Most dentist use a weak cement which is used as a provisional (temporary) cement on natural teeth, the most popular one is called: Temp-Bond.  This is why most people refer to it as a temporary cement, even though in the case of the implant crown it is the "permanent" one, or more properly: the final cement.

Your dentist is following standard practice.

Best wishes,

Dr. Zev Kaufman