DT News - Canada - Skeptic of coated stainless steel crowns turns advocate

Dental Tribune Canada

Thu. 17 May 2012

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When early childhood caries creates the need for restorations, a treatment of choice for strength, durability and protection has long been basic stainless steel crowns. But when it comes to aesthetics — especially with anterior teeth — shiny stainless steel quickly loses appeal. That can mean facing the challenges of strip crowns or composites.

In 1991 NuSmile joined the effort to end the aesthetics-versus-durability dilemma, introducing its proprietary approach to manufacturing coated stainless steel crowns.

“There are a few other companies with similar products, but NuSmile has performed with consistently higher results in laboratory studies on features such as fracture and fatigue resistance, color stability and wear,” said NuSmile CEO and President Diane Johnson Krueger. “Also, in two separate surveys of pediatric dentists, more dentists preferred NuSmile Crowns than any other aesthetic pediatric crown offered.”

One such dentist is Carla Cohn, DMD, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who works exclusively in children’s dentistry. With 20 years of experience, she also is a clinical instructor at the University of Manitoba and an international lecturer. “For me,” Cohn said, “treating kids, all day every day, is a pleasure.”

Cohn was introduced to NuSmile Crowns at a dental convention. “Initially, I dismissed the need for such a product,” she said. “I mistakenly thought I could treat the kids in my practice with my current armamentarium, strip crowns, composite and stainless steel crowns. In time, I realized how invaluable these aesthetic crowns really are.”

Today, Cohn has come full-circle, appearing at dental conferences to guide fellow practitioners through the NuSmile process.

Slow to convert, quick to master

Frustrated by countless hours spent fussing over anterior strip crowns — trying to maintain a dry field, finishing and polishing — and never being quite happy with the results, Cohn finally tried NuSmile. “It really is easy to prep and place them,” she said. “General practitioners in particular, who are accustomed to preparing teeth for full coverage as in a porcelain-type crown, will find the preparation very similar in the amount of tooth structure that must be removed. Best of all, they give an aesthetic result with virtually no finishing required.”

The more success Cohn had with NuSmile, the more she recommended them. They proved more durable and resistant to stains and chips than strip crowns; and moisture and hemorrhage control were not as crucial to success. They didn’t exhibit leakage, and there was less risk of contamination and failure in pulpally treated teeth.

The former skeptic now puts this question to hesitant peers: “If a parent or patient refuses stainless steel due to aesthetics — what are you going to use as a restoration? If you don’t have an aesthetic full-coverage alternative, you have no alternative.”

(Source: NuSmile Crowns)

Note: This article was published in Dental Tribune Canada, Vol. 6 No. 1, February 2012.

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