Overview

Stainless steel crowns can help to protect baby teeth.

They’re used to treat teeth at the back of the mouth (molars) that have decayed or not formed properly.

A crown will help to protect the tooth, and keeps a space in the mouth for the adult tooth to grow into. They can be used to make sure that a damaged or weak tooth does not need to be removed.

They might also be used for larger holes in the back teeth, as they last longer than white fillings.

When preparing the tooth for the crown, the dentist might find more decay than expected. If this happens, the tooth might need to be removed (extracted) instead of fitting a crown.

Read information on having a tooth removed and other treatments for dental decay.

How stainless steel crowns look

Metal crowns are made from stainless steel, nickel and chrome. They’re bright and metallic, and are pre-made in different sizes.

Your dentist will choose a stainless steel crown that fits over your child’s tooth, and covers the part of the tooth that sits above the gum.

They’re placed on back teeth so are less noticeable than you might think. Children are usually happier to have a shiny tooth rather than one with a hole in it.

Having a stainless steel crown

Treatment involves cleaning and shaping the tooth so it’s ready for the crown to be fitted. This might involve some drilling to the tooth.

When the tooth is ready, the crown can be fixed in place.

Local anaesthetic

This treatment can be done while your child is awake, but using a local anaesthetic. This is an injection into the mouth, which numbs the area so your child cannot feel any pain. They might feel some discomfort when the local anaesthetic is injected into their mouth.

This treatment takes about 30 minutes.

If your child is having local anaesthetic, they should eat and drink as usual before the procedure.

They can go back to school after the treatment.

General anaesthetic

The treatment can be done under general anaesthetic if necessary. This means your child is asleep (unconscious) during treatment.

If your child is having a general anaesthetic you’ll be given information about preparing them. 

Other treatment options

If a child is very anxious, or too young to have a local anaesthetic, treatment can be done with no local anaesthetic or drilling of the tooth. Instead, the dentist can push the crown into place over the tooth. This technique is called the Hall crown, and will need to be discussed with your child’s dentist.

After having a stainless steel crown

Pain after treatment

After treatment, the crown can feel ‘tight’ to begin with. This can last for a couple of days.

Make sure you have paracetamol or ibuprofen at home to use if your child needs it. Always follow the instructions on the packet and never take more than the recommended dose (amount).

Looking after your child’s mouth

If your child had local anaesthetic, their mouth will be numb after treatment.

Try to make sure that they do not bite their lip, cheek or tongue.

They should not drink or eat anything hot as they could burn their mouth.

Talking and eating might feel different at first, but your child will soon get used to it.

Your child might notice that the crown appears ‘high’, and that they cannot fully close their teeth together. This usually settles within a few weeks.

Looking after a stainless steel crown

The crowns will behave like a normal tooth, and your child should treat it like one.

They should brush it 2 times a day when they brush their other teeth.

They should also floss between their teeth as they usually would.

Ask for our information about looking after your child’s teeth and gums.

How long a crown will last

The crown should stay in place until the baby tooth falls out naturally. This will happen when the adult tooth underneath is ready to come through.

There have been cases where the crown wears through on the surface, and needs to be replaced.

Occasionally, the tooth with the crown on needs to be removed (extracted).

Follow-up appointment

Your child might have a course of treatment with the dentist, and having a stainless steel crown will be part of it.

Speak to your child’s dentist about follow-up appointments, and what happens after having a crown.

After hospital treatment, your child will be cared for by your local dentist. They will provide regular check-ups, and dental care.

Giving your permission (consent)

We want to involve you in decisions about your child’s care and treatment. If you decide your child should have the treatment, you’ll be asked to sign a consent form. This states that you understand what the treatment involves and agree for your child to have it.

If you’d like more information about our consent process, please speak to a member of staff caring for your child.