Aesthetic Restoration of Traumatized Deciduous Anterior Teeth Using Custom Fabricated Zirconia Crowns - A Case Report

Abstract

Loss of anterior teeth in children can adversely affect the aesthetics, decrease masticatory efficiency, cause speech disturbance and result in the development of parafunctional habits and psychological problems. There are various complete crown coverage restorations like polycarbonate crowns, stainless steel crowns (SSC), open-faced SSC, commercially veneered SSC, Figaro crowns and Zirconia crowns. The superior aesthetics, inertness, and biocompatibility of ceramics have made them acceptable as a dental restorative material by clinicians. Zirconia ceramics have become a frequently employed biomaterial in dentistry due to their enhanced aesthetics and mechanical properties.
 The aesthetic management of decayed and traumatized deciduous anterior teeth using complete coverage restoration in children is strenuous owing to their limited size, proximity to the pulp, decreased surface area for bonding, teeth isolation difficulties and lack of cooperation. Structural loss of anterior teeth affects aesthetics, impairs mastication and phonetics, causes eruption disturbance of permanent teeth and leads to the development of non-nutritive habits. This may result in a psychosocial crisis in the patient including reduced self-esteem.
 Full coronal restorations like polycarbonate crowns, strip crowns, and modifications of stainless-steel crowns including the open-faced and pre-veneered crowns are being used by clinicians to restore discoloured incisors. However, they are often associated with technical, functional, or aesthetic limitations. Over the past decades, advancement in different technologies in the sphere of dentistry and the immense booming of dental materials have always resulted in a continuous re-assessment of different treatment principles so employed. Paediatric zirconia crowns were introduced in 2010 and have gained popularity for aesthetic considerations.[1] Zirconia crowns are clinically justifiable and with greater parental gratification when compared with other full coverage coronal restorations. Zirconia crowns express high strength, aesthetics, durability, biocompatibility, reduced wear of opposing teeth, and cause less gingival irritation.