A strip crown is a popular and aesthetically pleasing dental restoration, especially for restoring damaged primary (baby) teeth, particularly in the anterior region. This technique involves using a clear plastic crown form that is filled with a restorative material and then bonded to the tooth. The plastic form is subsequently removed, leaving behind a natural-looking restoration.
Understanding Strip Crowns
Strip crowns offer an excellent cosmetic solution for teeth that have suffered from significant decay, fractures, or developmental defects. They are especially favored in pediatric dentistry because they provide an aesthetic alternative to traditional stainless steel crowns for visible teeth.
How to Do a Strip Crown: A Step-by-Step Guide
The process of placing a strip crown is meticulous and requires precision to ensure a durable and aesthetically pleasing outcome. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the procedure:
Step 1: Tooth Preparation and Decay Removal
Before placing any restoration, the affected tooth must be thoroughly prepared. This involves:
- Local Anesthesia: Administering a local anesthetic to ensure the child's comfort during the procedure.
- Isolation: Using a rubber dam or cotton rolls to isolate the tooth from saliva and moisture, which is crucial for successful bonding.
- Decay Removal: Carefully removing all carious (decayed) tooth structure. This ensures a clean and healthy foundation for the new crown. The tooth is then shaped to accommodate the strip crown and provide adequate retention for the restorative material. This may involve reducing the tooth's circumference and incisal edge.
Step 2: Selecting the Appropriate Strip Crown Size
Choosing the correct size strip crown form is critical for a natural fit and appearance. The dentist will:
- Measure the Tooth: Use a selection guide or try-in various clear plastic crown forms to find one that closely matches the size and shape of the natural tooth, ensuring proper contour and contact points with adjacent teeth.
- Trim if Necessary: The strip crown form may need to be trimmed at the cervical (gum) margin to ensure it fits precisely without impinging on the gum tissue.
Step 3: Filling the Strip Crown with Restorative Material
Once the strip crown form is selected and prepared, it's time to fill it with the restorative material.
- Etching and Bonding: The prepared tooth surface is typically etched with phosphoric acid and a dental bonding agent is applied and light-cured. This creates micro-retentions for the restorative material to bond to.
- Material Selection: The most common material used is composite resin, known for its aesthetic qualities and good bond strength. Some dentists may opt for advanced materials like ACTIVA BioACTIVE-RESTORATIVE, which offers benefits such as sustained release of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride, promoting tooth remineralization and contributing to pulp health.
- Filling the Form: The composite or chosen restorative material is carefully dispensed into the selected strip crown form, ensuring it is fully packed without air bubbles.
Step 4: Seating the Strip Crown
With the strip crown filled, it is ready for placement on the prepared tooth.
- Placement: The filled strip crown form is gently yet firmly seated onto the prepared tooth.
- Excess Material Removal: As the crown is seated, excess restorative material will extrude from the margins. This excess should be carefully removed with an explorer or composite instrument before curing to simplify the cleanup process later.
- Ensuring Proper Fit: The dentist verifies that the crown is fully seated and that the margins are well adapted to the tooth structure.
Step 5: Curing and Finishing
This final stage completes the restoration and refines its appearance.
- Light Curing: A high-intensity curing light is used to polymerize (harden) the composite resin through the clear plastic form. The curing time will depend on the material and the light's intensity, often involving multiple angles to ensure thorough polymerization.
- Strip Crown Removal: Once the material is fully cured, the clear plastic strip crown form is carefully peeled away or sectioned and removed, leaving the composite restoration in place.
- Adjustments and Polishing: The dentist will then check the occlusion (bite) and make any necessary adjustments to the shape and contours of the new crown. Finally, the restoration is polished to a high shine to mimic the natural tooth's luster and prevent plaque accumulation.
Benefits of Strip Crowns
Strip crowns offer several advantages, making them a preferred choice in specific clinical situations:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Aesthetics | Provide an excellent natural appearance, crucial for visible front teeth. |
| Minimally Invasive | Generally preserve more tooth structure compared to full-coverage laboratory-fabricated crowns. |
| Biocompatibility | Composite resins are well-tolerated by oral tissues. |
| Cost-Effective | Often less expensive than laboratory-fabricated crowns, especially for primary teeth. |
| Single Visit | Can typically be completed in a single dental appointment, which is beneficial for pediatric patients. |
Considerations for Strip Crowns
While highly beneficial, strip crowns are primarily indicated for anterior primary teeth. For posterior primary teeth, stainless steel crowns are often preferred due to their superior durability and strength in withstanding biting forces. The success of a strip crown heavily relies on proper tooth preparation, meticulous bonding techniques, and adequate isolation from moisture during the procedure.
The procedure ensures that the restored tooth is not only functional but also blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural dentition, contributing positively to a child's oral health and self-confidence. For more in-depth information, you can consult resources from the American Dental Association or leading pediatric dental organizations like the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
