In the Know for You to Know

You take your child for their regular dental check-up appointment and you’re feeling good this time but you still have this feeling they may have a cavity or two.

The hygienist asks you to come over and the pediatric dentist begins to discuss the best way to take care of the tooth with the big cavity. Yes, that tooth. The tooth all the way in the back that has been a challenge to floss and brush.

As the dentist is talking with you, you’re thinking “maybe a filling, a smallish filling, after all it’s a baby tooth and not very big.”

Then you hear the words “cap” and “crown.” You’re surprised and thinking “oh no, what?, how?, you’ve got to be kidding.”

This isn’t a ploy. There are times when a child’s tooth may have a cavity, a developmental defect, or a fracture and the best way to restore the tooth is with a dental crown.

Today we’re breaking down the basics on a commonly used dental crown for children, the stainless steel crown.

What Is A Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth shaped cap that restores a decayed or broken tooth.

The crown fits over the entire tooth (like a hat covers your child’s head) and is contoured to ensure a proper fit. 

Why Does A Baby Tooth Need A Crown?

Baby Teeth (aka primary teeth) are important to take care of because they help with proper speech development, chewing, and maintaining space for adult teeth to come in correctly.

When a baby tooth has a cavity, or defect, or is fractured the structure of the tooth is weakened and can easily break; which causes another set of issues.

Covering the tooth with a crown gives support and structure while preserving the tooth’s form and function.

What Are The Reasons For A Dental Crown?

Tooth decay (aka cavities) is very prevalent among children, and the extent of the cavity is the most common reason for a crown.

There are several additional indications for why a child needs a dental crown —

• After a pulpotomy,
• The decay has caused so much loss of tooth structure that a filling will break, break the tooth even more, or both,
• The tooth has developmental defects that compromise the structure of the tooth,
• A fractured tooth

What Is A Stainless Steel Crown?

Stainless steel crowns are a metal crown which are pre-formed, resemble the anatomy of the tooth and can be contoured to the tooth. The crown is then affixed onto the tooth with a special dental cement.

A stainless steel crown is the most traditional type of crown for baby molars. The reason is that they are designed to last for several years until the baby tooth falls out. They are very durable, and adapt very well to the tooth.

What Is A Stainless Steel Crown Made Of?

Stainless steel crowns are manufactured using a stainless steel alloy which contains nickel and chromium.

If your child has any sensitivity or allergy to any of these materials it’s important for you to speak with your pediatrician and pediatric dentist before your child’s crown appointment.

How Long Does A Stainless Steel Crown Last?

A stainless steel crown is placed to help restore form and function to a baby tooth (most typically a baby molar), and lasts as long as the baby tooth.

The tooth and the crown usually come out together, which can be around the time your child is 10 to 14 years old.

How Do We Take Care Of A Stainless Steel Crown?

Floss and brush around the tooth with the crown just like all your child’s other teeth.

It’s best to avoid sticky, chewy and gooey candies since they can dislodge the crown or pull it off completely.

Is There An Alternative To A Stainless Steel Crown?

While stainless steel crowns are the gold standard for children’s molar teeth, there are other options available, such as stainless steel crowns with a pre-veneered tooth colored white facing and zirconium crowns.

Stainless Steel Crown With Pre-Veneered White Facing

Stainless steel crowns can be made to look more esthetically pleasing with a pre-veneered tooth colored plastic face.

These crowns appear more cosmetic because from the front they look “tooth colored” but the area around the facing, the biting surface, the sides and back of the crown are all the traditional silver color.

For the tooth colored facing to adhere to the metal crown extra bulk is added, so these crowns look thick and round.

The facing also has an increased tendency to easily break off exposing the silver underneath.

Zirconium Crowns

Stay tuned for my upcoming post on these new for children highly esthetic crowns.

What To Remember

The care of baby teeth is essential due to their role in chewing, speaking, and maintaining space for the development and correct positioning of adult teeth.

While baby teeth may be smaller in size than adult teeth, tooth decay, structural defects and fractures loom larger for them.

Stainless Steel Crown’s are the treatment of choice for primary teeth for 3 important reasons —

• Durability,
• Longevity,
• Reliability.

Does your child have a stainless steel crown? What were your thoughts when you heard your child needed a stainless steel crown? Did you have a stainless steel crown as a child? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email to kidstoothotline@proton.me Like Us or chat with us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!