What is a stainless steel crown?

Stainless steel crowns, also known as pre-formed metal crowns or nickel chrome crowns, are nickel chrome crowns pre-made to the size of the tooth.

A crown is cemented to the tooth using a special material to restore the tooth.

Why do I need a stainless steel crown?

Crowns have been used to restore primary (baby) molars since 1950.

They are the accepted form of restoration for a primary molar with decay affecting more than one surface.

Crowns are also used:

• when there is a large decay lesion
• following pulp treatment
• for children with a high tooth decay rate,
• when there is a local or developmental enamel or dentine defect.

What happens during the treatment?

There are two techniques used to place the crowns.

The first technique is to remove enough tooth tissue to make space for the crown and cement. This technique has a weak evidence base and requires cutting the tooth down, which may not be suitable for young children, especially when co-operation is required for a considerable time.

The second technique is to push the crown over the visible part of the primary molar. This requires no preparation of the tooth and no anaesthetic. This technique has significantly fewer failures and is easier for children. You may find painkillers are needed if the tooth feels ‘tight’.

Are there any risks or alternatives?

• When preparing the tooth for the crown we may find that there is too much decay, meaning the tooth cannot be saved and needs to be removed.
• Sometimes a crown may not sit properly over the tooth and can come out.
• The crown is metallic so could be visible when the mouth is wide open.

Alternatively, a filling material can be used to fill the holes in the teeth, however, this does not protect the teeth and could fail, leading to more extensive treatment and sometimes the loss of a tooth. Please speak to your dentist for more information about this option.

How do I look after the crown?

The crown should behave like a normal tooth and should be treated in the same way. It should be brushed twice a day, along with the other teeth and assessed by a dentist regularly.

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