Clinical Evaluation of Stainless Steel Crown versus Zirconia Crown in Primary Molars: An In Vivo Study

Sample Size CalculationThis research study was a randomized controlled trial with an allocation ratio of 1:1.Clinical procedures were done by a single operator to eliminate operator induced errors.Sample size was calculated at 95% confidence level with level of significance set p = 0.05 (95%).p < 0.05 was significant and p > 0.05 was insignificant using statistical package for social sciences version (SPSS) 17.0 for Windows.A total sample of 40 primary molar was calculated and equally distributed into 2 groups of 20 samples in each group randomly using odd and even method.The two groups are as follows (as shown in Flowchart 1).Group A: SSC Group B: zirconia crown IntroductIonDental decay in children's teeth is a significant public health problem.In today's world, with increase in prevalence of caries it has become important to maintain the functional activity of the primary dentition by performing various restorative treatments. 1 Preformed metal crowns (PMCs), more commonly known as the SSCs, are the good choice in managing extensive carious lesions, particularly in primary molars.2 Stainless steel crowns offer many advantages; however, they lack in esthetics so accordingly many more new materials, such as, open-faced crowns and pre-veneered SSCs were developed to replace SSCs.These materials improve esthetics but had many shortcomings.More recently, zirconia crowns, which is also known as "ceramic steel," have been introduced with reasonable esthetics and excellent mechanical properties for the restoration of permanent and primary teeth.3 They are contoured anatomically, free of metal, bio inert completely, white colored, and resistant to dental decay.4 The present study was clinically compared and evaluated two full coronal coverage restorations (SSCs and zirconia crown) on primary molars at 1 st and 3 rd months' follow-up regarding retentivity of crown, TMJ problem, gingival response, plaque accumulation, and tooth wear in opposing teeth. MaterIals a n d MethodsThe present study was conducted in KD Dental College and Hospital, Mathura, UP in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry.The research protocol was reviewed and approved by the institutional ethical committee and informed consent was obtained from parents.