Comparative Evaluation of Clinical Success with Preformed Stainless Steel Crowns and Bioflx Crowns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Deciduous teeth play a crucial role in mastication, speech, esthetics, and space maintenance.Full-coverage restorations such as stainless steel crowns (SSCs) ensure a hermetic seal but fall short in esthetics, prompting the development of alternatives such as Bioflx crowns.Aim: To compare the clinical success of SSCs and Bioflx crowns in children.Materials and methods: Twenty children (ages 4-8) requiring crowns postpulpectomy for mandibular second primary molars were divided into two groups: group A (stainless steel crown) and group B (Bioflx crown).Child satisfaction was assessed via the children's acceptance scale, and clinician satisfaction was assessed with a 5-point Likert scale.Discomfort and anxiety were evaluated using the emoji and FLACC scales.Clinical success (retention, wear, stain resistance, plaque, and gingival index) was recorded at 3, 6, and 12 months.Results: Children preferred Bioflx crowns for their esthetics (p < 0.05), while clinicians favored the morphology of SSCs (p < 0.05).Bioflx required less chair time (p < 0.05).Discomfort levels were comparable across groups.SSCs showed superior retention, gingival health, and plaque control (p < 0.05).No significant difference in wear or stain resistance was noted.Conclusion: Bioflx crowns are esthetically pleasing and efficient for pediatric restorations.However, SSCs remain superior in durability and clinical performance.Long-term studies are recommended for Bioflx crowns.