Stainless steel crowns

If your dentist has advised your child would benefit from a stainless steel crown, it's usually for one or more of these reasons: 

• The tooth is significantly decayed
• The enamel is weak and soft 
• The tooth has undergone a pulpotomy treatment
• The tooth has a large filling which keeps failing

A stainless steel crown is shiny and silver in appearance.

• They are placed on back molar teeth, so often they are less noticeable than you might think!
• Children are usually pleased to have a shiny tooth rather than one with a hole.
• They can be referred to as a sparkle tooth, princess tooth, jewelled tooth, silver cap or hat to children.

The material is selected for its durability and strength, which are essential for protecting severely decayed or damaged teeth, especially in paediatric dentistry. Unlike tooth-coloured materials such as composite resin or porcelain, stainless steel is highly resistant to wear and tear and can withstand the pressures of chewing and grinding in the mouth. The silver colour of hall crowns can also comfort children and parents, signifying a sturdy and dependable dental restoration.

• Local anaesthetic is not usually required.

Rest assured, we will use The Wand STA if we need to use a local anaesthetic.

We generally use the Hall Technique, which is minimally invasive, requires no numbing or drilling of the tooth.

The procedure:

1. To create space without doing any drilling, we will place orthodontic separators (rubber bands) between the adjacent teeth.
2. After one week, you will return to have these bands removed.
3. We will select the crown and cement in place to ensure the tooth is completely sealed and protected with the new shiny crown. 

The crown is designed to stay securely in place until the baby tooth naturally falls out, allowing the permanent tooth underneath to come through in its natural position.