Assessment of zirconia and stainless steel crowns in primary molars

Primary teeth play an important role in growth and development of children. Attempts to maintain the primary teeth until the eruption of their permanent successors have resulted in the introduction of many restorative materials and techniques. The stainless steel crowns are often the first choice for the repair of severely damaged primary teeth and have been one of the most effective methods of tooth restoration in pediatric dentistry since Humphrey first used them in pediatric patients in 1950. Considering the increasing demand for esthetic restorations, several treatment options have been proposed for primary teeth to overcome this problem such as strip crowns, pre-veneered stainless steel crowns and zirconia crowns. Zirconia crowns is the most recent type of esthetic crowns for primary teeth. Since adhesion and colonization of oral microbes on tooth surfaces and restorations are considered crucial in the development of secondary caries and periodontal disease, this study was directed to evaluate the effects of both zirconia and stainless steel crowns on oral hygiene, change in alveolar bone height radiographically and microbial accumulation.