Evaluation of Streptococcus mutans Colonization and Oral Hygiene Status in Primary Molars Restored with Two Different...

Full-coverage restorations are commonly employed choice of treatment in treating multisurface carious lesions in primary teeth.

To assess the amount of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) colonization and oral hygiene status in deciduous molars restored with preformed zirconia and stainless steel crowns (SSC).

A total of 21 children aged between 4 and 7 years with bilateral carious primary molars were randomly divided into two groups of zirconia and SSC. Plaque collection was done using sterile swabs at baseline and 1-month intervals. S. mutans was cultured on mitis salivarius-bacitracin agar (MSBA). The microorganisms were then counted and expressed as colony-forming units. The plaque and gingival indices were recorded during the follow-up visits. All data were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at 5%.

A total of 21 children with 42 teeth were randomized into group I-SSC and group II-zirconia crowns using the split-mouth technique, respectively. The zirconia group showed a statistically significant reduction in the adhesion of S. mutans (p < 0.001). On comparing the plaque and gingival indices between the groups, plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) scores were significantly low in the zirconia group as compared with the SSC, with a mean difference of 0.08 at 3 months in group II (p < 0.001).

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) adhesion to zirconia crowns was significantly less when compared with SSC, with better gingival health and oral hygiene.

Elizabeth JAA, Ramkumar H, Paulindraraj S, et al. Evaluation of Streptococcus mutans Colonization and Oral Hygiene Status in Primary Molars Restored with Two Different Crowns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-2):S183-S189.