COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF PREFORMED STAINLESS STEEL CROWNS AND PREFABRICATED ZIRCONIA CROWNS FOR RESTORING ENDODONTICALLY TREATED PRIMARY MOLARS

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate preformed stainless steel crowns and prefabricated zirconia crowns for restoring endodontically treated primary molars. Material and Methods: A total of 24 patients between the age group of 5-10 years having atleast a primary first or second maxillary or mandibular molars affected with caries requiring endodontic treatment followed by extracoronal restoration by preformed Stainless steel crown(group no.I consisting of 12 teeth)or Zirconia crowns (group II consisting of 12 teeth) for esthetics and function were included in the study. Following which ,clinical photographs and intra oral periapical radiographs were taken and parents accompanying the patient were asked to score the satisfaction score.Patients were recalled after 1 week, 3 months and 6 months from the day on which the final crown placement was done. Results: Considering the clinical and radiographic success rates at the end of 6 months, non-statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p=1.000 and p=1.000 respectively) using Chi-square test. Conclusion: It can be concluded from our study that both Zirconia crowns and Stainless steel crowns can be effectively used as extracoronal restorations in primary posterior endodontically treated teeth. In terms of retention, marginal adaptation, occlusion and gingival health both the crowns exhibited non-significant differences. However, zirconia crowns provided good esthetics and significantly better parental satisfaction scores. Thus, either of the crowns can be used for restoring such teeth, but whenever esthetic concerns surpass,zirconia crowns seem to be a preferred alternative.