Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC) have a long history in paediatric dentistry across the globe. Crowns are prefabricated with multiple sizes and shapes available for molar teeth. They are extremely durable and as such are an invaluable material for paediatric dentists.
Indications for stainless steel crowns
- Teeth with large carious lesions (holes)
- Teeth that have had pulp therapy
- Where the quality of the remaining tooth structure is poor (chalky, or hypomineralised) - (including adult teeth that will need porcelain crowns once a child has stopped growing)
- Teeth with excessive wear (due to erosion or grinding habits)
- Children who require general anaesthesia for dental care
- Children with a high decay rate (Australasian Academy for Paediatric Dentistry Guidelines)
Placement of stainless-steel crowns
Stainless steel crowns are cemented to the teeth using dental cements. This is often done using local anaesthetic or as a part of treatment under general anaesthesia. Crowns go over the remaining tooth and restorative material inside the tooth. Deciduous (baby) teeth with stainless steel crowns are lost (fall out) normally with the crown coming out as a part of the tooth.
Cleaning, care and maintenance of stainless-steel crowns
Stainless steel crowns are cemented to the teeth but may become de-bonded particularly with hard or sticky food (muesli bars, confectionary). Teeth treated with a stainless steel crown still need thorough brushing and flossing to maintain their health. Teeth should have radiographs (x-rays) at least every two years to monitor the underlying tooth.
