Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crows are used to cap teeth with large or deep cavities in children. If your child’s teeth have been damaged by tooth decay, stainless steel crowns may be used to prevent further damage.
What are stainless steel crowns?
A stainless steel crown is a metal cap that is fitted to a child’s back molars in case of severe tooth decay. They can also be used on front teeth and permanent molars; and for other reasons such as a broken or fractured tooth, or other health conditions that affect a child’s teeth.
When applied to baby teeth, the crown will stay in place to protect the tooth from further decay until the baby tooth falls out naturally in preparation for permanent teeth.
Stainless steel crowns have many benefits for children. They offer a way to save your child’s tooth instead of having to remove it due to decay. This helps to keep space in the mouth for when permanent teeth start to appear. Children usually adapt quickly to having stainless steel crowns and do not notice them in the mouth.
What to expect at your appointment
Our dentists are experienced in dental treatment for kids and always ensure your child is comfortable and pain-free as we gently proceed with the treatment.
For our littlest patients, we take time to talk to them about their treatment in advance, using terms children can understand and a level of detail they will feel comfortable with.
For parents, here’s what to expect:
We will usually take scans of your child’s mouth well in advance to plan the treatment. This includes working out how many teeth are affected and the extent of the decay.
For severe tooth decay, we may need to treat the inside of the tooth (pulp) as well as covering the surface of the tooth.
Before we get started, we make sure your child is comfortable and relaxed by using a range of anaesthetic options best suited to children.
The tooth and pulp will be prepared for the new stainless steel crown by removing the areas of decay.
The crown will be fitted snugly to the tooth, covering the entire area, before the tooth is cleaned.
The process is repeated for each tooth depending on how many crowns are being fitted.
Stainless steel crowns may feel a bit funny at first as the biting surface of the tooth has changed. This disappears after a few days and your child will soon get used to their new crowns. Meanwhile it’s important to care for teeth as usual with normal brushing.
How to talk to your children about their treatment
We understand that having a dental procedure like stainless steel crowns can be daunting for kids and parents. We are always happy to answer any questions you have about dental treatment.
Our dentists are very experienced working with children. This incudes being available to answer questions about any procedure, including stainless steel crowns.
For parents, we are happy to share advice on how to talk to your children about their procedure to help settle any nerves.
