Evaluation of clinical success of stainless steel crowns and zirconiacrowns in young permanent molars

This study was conducted to compare the gingival health and retention of young permanent molars with a stainless steel crown (SSC) or zirconia crown. Twenty children aged 6 to 17 years who required crown restoration for at least two permanent first molars were included in this study. The teeth were randomized into SSC and zirconia crown groups in a split-mouth design. The patients with crowns were evaluated after baseline and at one-, six-, twelve-, and 18-month follow-ups. In baseline and control sessions, general oral hygiene was assessed using the Greene and Vermillion simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Periodontal health was assessed using the Silness&Löe plaque index and Löe&Sillness gingival index. In addition to clinical and restorative evaluations, radiographic evaluations were also performed at 6 and 12 months. The data were analyzed statistically using Kaplan-Meier Analysis, Chi-square Test, Friedman Two-Way Analysis of Variance, Mann-Whitney U Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance in Repeated Measurements, and T-test. Forty teeth were evaluated in 17 children for 18 months. The cumulative survival rates of zirconia crowns were 95.2%. The OHI-S levels were not different at the follow-ups. Teeth restored with zirconia crowns showed lower gingival index and plaque index scores than those restored with SSCs. Although SSCs are a very successful restorative material, the gingival health and plaque accumulation performance of zirconia crowns were better than those of stainless steel crowns.