Stainless Steel Crowns: Everything You Need to Know

Finding the best option for dental restoration is essential to repair damaged or decayed teeth in children. Surprisingly, stainless steel crowns are an excellent choice. These are made of steel, which is resistant to corrosion and staining, making them an ideal choice. In addition, these dental crowns are feasible to use as primary and permanent teeth, offering a cost-effective and long-lasting solution to many dental issues.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about stainless steel-made crowns. For instance, the types of dental crowns, the process of placing them, and the types of dental problems they can help address. Except for that, we’ll have an overview of the crown spreader.

Whether you're a parent considering dental crowns for your child or an adult needing dental restoration, by the end of this blog, you will get the information you need to decide whether steel crowns are the right choice for you.

Types of Stainless Steel Crowns

There are two main types of stainless steel dental crowns:

1. Preformed crowns: 

These are prefabricated ones that come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Typically, preformed crowns are feasible in pediatric dentistry to restore primary teeth that have extensive decay or damage. However, these are helpful as temporary restorations on permanent teeth.

2. Custom-made crowns:

These are made in a dental laboratory to fit the specific shape and size of the patient's tooth. Primarily, custom-made stainless steel crowns are a favorable option in permanent teeth and cases with more extensive decay. Apart from that, these crowns are ideal for restoring teeth that have undergone root canal therapy.

In addition to these major types of steel crowns, different designs and variations are available depending on the patient's specific needs.

Some examples include:

• Open-faced crowns:

These crowns have an occlusal surface hole to allow filling material placement.

• Stainless steel shell crowns:

These are thin stainless steel crowns that are used to cover only the front part of a tooth. Commonly, they are preferable in cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of the front teeth.

Overall, the type of stainless crown to use depends on the patient's specific dental needs and the recommendation of their dental specialist.

Dental Problems That Require Steel Crowns

Steel crowns have frequent use in dentistry to restore severely decayed teeth. 

Some of the dental problems that may require the use of these crowns include:

• Extensive tooth decay:

A dental surgeon may recommend a crown when a tooth has extensive decay that is beyond repair with a filling. Therefore, stainless steel dental crowns are the most favorable option in pediatric dentistry to restore primary teeth.

• Fractured or broken teeth: 

Mostly, teeth that break due to trauma are restorable with a stainless steel-made crown. These are ideal for supporting and protecting the remaining tooth structure.

• Teeth with large fillings:

Teeth with large fillings may weaken and be at risk of further damage. For that, a stainless steel dental crown is a wise choice to provide additional support and protection for the tooth.

• Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy: 

Teeth undergoing root canal therapy often require a crown to restore strength and function.

Overall, stainless steel crowns are a durable and effective option for restoring teeth that have been severely damaged due to different causes.

However, your dentist or dental specialist can evaluate your specific dental needs and recommend the best treatment option.

Process of Placing Steel Dental Crowns

The process of placing stainless steel-made crowns typically involves the following steps:

1. Tooth preparation: 

First of all, dentists prepare the tooth by removing any decay or damage and shaping it to accommodate the crown. Sometimes, they build up the tooth with a filling material to support the crown.

2. Crown sizing: 

In the second step, the dental surgeon selects a stainless steel crown that fits the size and shape of the prepared tooth. For this purpose, preformed crowns come in various sizes, while custom-made crowns have special shapes for the patient.

3. Crown placement:

After crown sizing, the dentist places the crown over the prepared tooth and checks its alignment. Then, they use a block of dental cement to bond the crown to the tooth permanently.

4. Bite adjustment:

In this step, the dentist may need to adjust the crown's shape or size to ensure it fits comfortably and does not interfere with the patient's bite.

5. Post-placement care: 

The post-placement management includes instructions to care for the crown and maintain good oral hygiene. It is important to avoid eating hard or sticky foods that could damage the crown. Moreover, it is crucial to brush and floss the teeth regularly.

In some cases, dentists may have to place multiple crowns during the same appointment. The process typically takes one to two hours under local anesthesia to ensure patient comfort. 

Factually, stainless steel dental crowns are a long-lasting restoration option that can help perfectly restore the function and appearance of decayed teeth.

Durability Of Stainless Steel Crowns

Steel dental crowns are preferable for their durability and longevity. They are made from a strong, corrosion-resistant material that can withstand everyday eating and drinking wear and tear. 

Moreover, these can last several years; sometimes, they may last up to a decade or longer. So there’s no need to replace them frequently. By dint of this, their durability makes them an excellent option for restoring teeth that decay irreversibly. 

However, it is important to note that proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining the longevity of stainless steel crowns.

Also, patients should avoid chewing foods that could damage the crown. Besides, it’s important to floss regularly to prevent gum disease around the crown.

Cost of Stainless Steel-made Crowns

The cost of stainless crowns can vary depending on several factors. These include

• Location of the dental clinic/facility
• The number of crowns required
• The need for additional dental procedures 

Overall, in comparison with other dental restorations, such as porcelain crowns or dental implants, stainless dental crowns are affordable.

The cost of stainless steel dental crowns in the United States can range from $300 to $800 per crown. However, dental insurance may cover this cost, particularly if the children need crowns to restore primary teeth.

Apart from that, some dental clinics may offer financing options or payment plans for those without dental insurance. It is important to check the payment policies and options with your dentist.

It is also worth noting that stainless steel crowns are long-lasting and durable. So they save money in the long run by reducing the need for additional dental treatments. 

Tools Used For Crown Spreading

Primarily, there are two types of tools helpful for dental specialists in crown spreading.

These include:

• Crown Spreaders

These are dental instruments helpful in the placement of dental crowns.  Basically, crown spreaders are small, hand-held tools that help dentists gently spread apart the teeth on either side of a prepared tooth. 

This allows for easier placement of the crown over the tooth. For the convenience of dental surgeons, these spreaders come in different sizes to accommodate various tooth sizes and shapes.

• Crown Spreader Forceps

These are more specialized instruments used to place stainless crowns on primary teeth. These forceps have a unique design that allows for a secure grip on the crown, ensuring proper positioning over the tooth.

During crown positioning on the teeth, the forceps are inserted into the crown and gently squeezed to hold the crown securely.

Using crown spreaders and crown spreader forceps can help make the process of placing dental crowns more efficient and effective. They allow for better access to the tooth and provide a secure grip on the crown, which can help to prevent complications during the procedure.

However, using these instruments requires proper training and technique. Dentists and dental assistants must be trained to use these tools to perform the procedure safely and effectively. 

To Wrap Up!

From the discussion above, we can cut it short that stainless steel crowns are a durable and cost-effective option for restoring decayed teeth. They have several advantages over other dental restoration options.

Basically, these crowns are feasible to consider in pediatric dentistry to restore primary teeth. 

However, these can be used in adults for temporary or permanent restorations. For more effective results, patients should discuss the options with their dental provider to determine if stainless steel-made crowns are the right choice for their needs.

If you need crown spreaders and forceps in multiple variations, GerDentUSA has all of them for your dental practice. Besides, you can get a variety of German stainless steel-made dental instruments from us.

We believe in serving dentistry with innovative dental tools.