Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavities, remains the most prevalent chronic disease among children in the U.S. According to a recent study, 5-10% of U.S. children will experience oral health issues by the age of three. What is even more alarming is that by the age of five, about 60% of children in the U.S. will encounter caries*.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, stainless steel crowns (SSC) have been used for over 50 years to save teeth that otherwise would be lost or when other treatments would fail. As one of the strongest and most durable options in dentistry, they last longer than fillings and cost less than other types of crowns**.
As you can imagine, one of the most important procedures in pediatric dentistry involves the use of stainless steel crowns. Quick, accurate crown placement is critical in order for a child’s dental experience to be (and remain!) positive. This can be achieved through the use of pre-trimmed, pre-contoured and pre-crimped SSCs. These crowns offer a better fit, providing peace of mind as it relates to crown retention and longevity of the restoration, as well as a huge time-savings.
SO, WHAT IS THE RECIPE FOR A STAINLESS STEEL CROWN THAT’S THE PERFECT FIT?
INGREDIENT 1: A crown which has a narrower mesio-distal width.
Rationale: This allows for quicker adjacent crown placement. In some instances, removal of additional tooth structure from the mesial and distal surfaces of an adjacent primary teeth is necessary in order to create enough mesio-distal space for an additional crown to be placed***. Having a narrower SSC helps minimize the need for this potential tooth structure removal.
INGREDIENT 2: A crown which is the ideal height, pre-trimmed, and pre-crimped.
Rationale: When the crown is the ideal height, less modifications are required (if any at all!). Trimming and crimping small SSCs can be a tedious, time-consuming task. When crowns are the correct height, less time is spent making modifications, allowing more time for value-added activities such as patient education.
INGREDIENT 3: A crown which emulates the natural occlusal anatomy.
Rationale: By mimicking the natural tooth, the crown will more easily integrate into a patient’s dentition.
INGREDIENT 4: A crown which exhibits the optimal occlusal thickness.
Rationale: A SSC’s ability to resist abrasion and perforation is critical for the longevity of the restoration.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
The following products from manufacturer Hu-Friedy contain all of the suggested “ingredients” outlined above!
Hu-Friedy Stainless Steel Pedo Crown Intro Kit – Shop
Hu-Friedy Stainless Steel Pedo Crown Refills – Shop
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Here are some additional resources from around the web to help you buff up on your stainless steel crown procedural knowledge!
- CLICK HERE to view a webinar presented by Dr. Joel Berg on SSC indications and techniques.
- CLICK HERE to be redirected to a detailed 12 minute video of an SSC procedure.
- CLICK HERE for a continuing education opportunity called “Technique for use of stainless-steel crowns in primary molars.
- After studying the information in the continuing education opportunity above, you can earn 1.5 CE credits by taking the test available HERE.
* Dye BA, Tan S, Smith V, Lewis BG, Barker LK, Thornton-Evans G, et al. Trends in oral health status: United States, 1988–1994 and 1999–2004. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 11(248). 2007. 1– 92.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_248.pdf
**American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2014. Fast Facts; 9: 1-45.
http://www.aapd.org/assets/1/7/FastFacts.pdf
***Berg, Joel. (Simon) Lin, Jenn-Yih. Dentaltown. June 2013; 82. 81-87.
http://www.dentaltown.com/images/Dentaltown/magimages/0613/DTJun13pg81.pdf
Content provided by Jennifer Nemeth of Hu-Friedy
