Perhaps the easiest way to fabricate a temporary acrylic restoration, such as a temporary crown, is to use one of the generation of bis-acryl resins—a category that includes such products as Luxatemp and Turbo Temp 2.
The advantages of these products over the old methyl methacrylates are many. They don’t have the odor of the older Jet acrylic-type products and do not heat up. Most importantly, they barely shrink upon setting. Older dentists especially know the travails (in dental school) of trying to remove a Jet acrylic temporary from the mouth after it completely sets—it’s almost impossible to do.
There are no such worries with a product like Danville’s Turbo Temp 2. Mixed in a syringe automixer, Turbo Temp 2 flows out of the gun into whatever premade mold is available to make a temporary crown, inlay, or onlay. The automix gun has its own unique design, which may not be compatible with other auto mix acrylic materials.
Turbo Temp 2 mixes smoothly and has excellent translucent characteristics. As opposed to methyl methacrylate resins, which have always been fairly opaque, Turbo Temp has much more lifelike characteristics.
Upon setting, which takes roughly two minutes, this acrylic does not have to be removed from the mouth before set time is reached. It has a lubricated quality to it, which allows it to be removed almost seamlessly (as long as there are no gross undercuts in the tooth preparation). Marginal accuracy is excellent. If the tooth prep is not severely darkened, and with enough thickness, all 3 shades of Turbo Temp 2 (A1, A2, A3.5) will mask the underlying tooth quite well.
Though the characteristics of Turbo Temp 2 are shared by products like Luxatemp, the cost is significantly less. Depending on the dental dealer used, it can be as little as half the cost of the other major syringe acrylic products.
However, there is a downside to the entire bis-acryl line. These products, including Turbo Temp 2, are not as strong as products like Jet acrylic. Spans greater than two pontics may be weak and break at the pontic joints over time. Placements over individual teeth, no matter how many, are no problem. Therefore, large spans may necessitate the use of a methyl methacrylate, or lab processed, temporary, or may require reinforcement, such as the incorporation of a fiber like Ribbond.
In summary, if you want an easy-to-use, inexpensive, nicely polishable, and esthetic product to meet your temporary acrylic needs, Turbo Temp 2 should fit the bill.
Review Synopsis
Product
Turbo Temp 2
The Good
Very good esthetic characteristics, very good polishability, inexpensive, handles quite easily, no heat generation or significant shrinkage upon setting.
The Bad
Needs its own unique gun,weak with long span temporary bridges,could break when lifting off of significant undercuts,can’t be easily added to if deficient.
The Bottom Line
An excellent temporary acrylic material, useful in almost all crown and bridge procedures.