Postoperative Bleeding Complications after Stainless Steel Crown Placement: A Case Series

Stainless steel crown (SSC) placement is a common pediatric restorative treatment, generally completed with minimal complications. Discussed in this case series are two patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with moderate oral bleeding persisting more than 12 hours after oral rehabilitation under general anesthesia. Bleeding incidence after pediatric oral rehabilitation has been found to range from 20% to 40%, with most being considered mild and significantly associated with extractions. There is limited documentation regarding moderate, persistent postoperative bleeding associated with placement of preformed metal crowns. The objective of this paper is to raise awareness of postoperative bleeding following SSC placement, discuss probable causes to minimize complications in the future, and discuss the local measures that were used to obtain hemostasis.