Abstract:

Preformed steel crowns are factory-made structures that are used in the restoration of damaged teeth significantly affected by multi-surface carious lesions. They cover the entire clinical crown, which provides reliable prevention of the occurrence of secondary caries. Placing the conventional steel crowns require some preliminary preparation of the tooth, which may be relatively difficult for the clinician when working with younger patients. Indications for PMCs usage on primary teeth are: prior pulp therapy; need for restorations of multi-surface caries and patients at high caries risk; primary teeth with developmental defects; where an amalgam is likely to fail; fractured teeth; teeth with extensive wear; abutment for space maintainer. However, the use of preformed crowns with minimal invasive treatments, such as the Hall technique, allows for these crowns to be used more often in the everyday practice of children’s dentists. Тhey are the most resistant in terms of mechanical strength in time of all obturation materials and should be an option for the restoration of temporary dentition, especially in children with high risk of caries. The Hall technique represents a minimally invasive method to control the carious process, wherein the metal preformed crown is placed directly on carious lesions of deciduous molars, with or without partial removal of carious mass and without any preparation of the affected tooth. Preformed metal crowns are the best method for the management of small to medium-carious lesions of class II on temporary molars.