Aesthetic preformed paediatric crowns in primary incisors: a bibliometric study and critical analysis

The aim of this bibliometric study was to assess clinical research regarding preformed crowns used for the treatment of primary anterior teeth.

A search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for publications on preformed crowns for primary anterior teeth, and was completed in a single day (August 8, 2025), identifying 379 articles. After filtering for original research and case report/series published in English, 40 relevant articles were selected for review. These publications were evaluated based on annual publication trends, study designs, journals, citation counts, authors, and keywords, using the 'biblioshiny' program in RStudio. Additionally, the review included critical analysis of articles with full texts to collect detailed information on study design, sample size, and clinical outcomes.

The review of 40 articles over three decades showed a 4.57% annual increase in publication number on preformed crowns for primary anterior teeth, especially since 2012, with USA authors leading. The data reveal temporal trends in preveneered preformed metal crowns for anterior primary teeth, strip crown success, zirconia crowns (gingival health, quality of life and parental satisfaction comparisons), and preformed crowns for primary anterior teeth after pulpal treatment. Amongst them, the journal "Pediatric Dentistry" had published the most papers. Recent studies highlighted zirconia crowns' high retention and gingival health benefits, whilst strip crowns showed lower durability.

For anterior primary teeth, that zirconia crowns offered high durability, aesthetics, and parental satisfaction. The heterogeneity of study designs underscores the necessity for more comprehensive research to inform paediatric dentistry practices.