Clinical Success and Parental Satisfaction of Two Commercially Available Stainless Steel Crowns in Pediatric Patients Under General Anesthesia: A Comparative Study

This observational clinical study is designed to compare the clinical performance and parental satisfaction of two commercially available stainless steel crown systems (NuSmile and Kids Crown) placed in pediatric patients treated under general anesthesia.

The study population consists of children aged 2-8 years who received at least one stainless steel crown under general anesthesia at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Bezmialem Vakıf University, within the previous three years. Only restorations with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 6 months will be evaluated. All clinical examinations will be completed during a defined 1-month assessment period.

Clinical evaluations will be performed by a single calibrated examiner to ensure consistency and reduce inter-examiner variability. Examinations will be conducted under standardized dental light conditions using a dental mirror and curved explorer. A structured and previously validated scoring system adapted from the literature will be applied for all clinical assessments.

The clinical evaluation will focus on crown-related outcomes, including retention, occlusal contact, proximal contact adaptation, crown integrity, gingival response, and oral hygiene status. Additional clinical signs such as pain, swelling, fistula formation, percussion sensitivity, and tooth mobility will also be recorded to identify potential biological or functional complications associated with the restorations.

Parental satisfaction will be assessed using a structured questionnaire administered to parents or legal guardians at the follow-up visit. Satisfaction will be evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale addressing aesthetic appearance, functional performance, durability, and overall acceptance of the stainless steel crowns.