Comparison between conventional and nano-composite veneered stainless steel crowns: a pilot study

Abstract

The aims of this pilot study were to evaluate the gingival health and the alveolar bone resorption around stainless steel crowns veneered with nano-composite as compared to conventional stainless steel crowns, in addition to evaluating parental satisfaction with the veneered crowns.
The sample studied was comprised of 10 patients who received 32 stainless steel crowns: 16 conventional crowns and 16 crowns that have been veneered with the nano-composite (Tetric EvoCeram®) using the ceramic repair system (Ceramic Repair, Intro Pack, Ivoclar Vivadent). The split-mouth design was used in this study. Each patient randomly received both types of crowns on two or four contralateral lower molars. A clinical and radiographic evaluation of the crowns was carried out after 1, 3 and 6 months and the following parameters were evaluated: simplified oral hygiene index, gingival index, crown marginal extension, crown marginal adaptation - both clinical and radiographic -, contact areas, alveolar bone resorption, as well as the level of parental satisfaction using the Likert type scale.
All the crowns were intact after six months; no statistically significant differences were noticed between the conventional crowns and the esthetic crowns for all the parameters examined. A statistically significant correlation was found between oral hygiene and gingivitis in all observations; also, a statistically significant correlation was found between the radiographic marginal adaptation and gingivitis at the third follow-up only (p=0.034). Overall parental satisfaction with the esthetic stainless steel crowns was high. Veneering the posterior stainless steel crowns with a nano-composite could be regarded as a good technique for improving the esthetic aspects of stainless steel crowns with a high rate of parental satisfaction and without any negative effects on the gingival tissue.

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