A comparison between stainless steel crowns and multisurface amalgams in primary molars

From the findings in this study, it appears that steel crowns for primary teeth are significantly superior to multisurface amalgam fillings, in terms of the percentage of teeth requiring subsequent care: 88.7 percent of the teeth initially restored with amalgam required follow-up treatment, and only 30.3 percent of the crowned teeth required such treatment. Because both types of restorations were studied for approximately the same length of time, one could not justly conclude that the crowns were superior in terms of longevity. Steel crowns may prove to be more economical for the patient than amalgam fillings, if follow-up visits are considered. The author plans to conduct a second study on the cost factor.