The use of aesthetic paediatric full coverage restorations among paediatric dental practitioners: an international survey

Despite the recent growing evidence in support of prefabricated zirconia crown use as a successful option in managing grossly carious anterior and posterior primary teeth, the use of such crowns remains controversial within the paediatric dental profession. This study aims to assess the use of aesthetic full coverage paediatric restorations among paediatric dentists worldwide, with emphasis on aesthetic prefabricated zirconia crowns. This was an online cross-sectional survey questionnaire study comprising of 38 multiple-choice questions disseminated worldwide through the contact lists of national, regional and international paediatric dental organisations and social media platforms. The survey was completed by 556 respondents thus achieving power, with 391 (70.3%) females and 165 (29.7%) males. The respondents were from 55 different countries spread across six continents. The use of aesthetic full coverage restorations was reported by 80% (n = 444) of the respondents. For restoring anterior teeth, participants mainly used either composite strip crowns (94.4%, n = 419) or zirconia crowns (73.6%, n = 327), while those who used aesthetic crowns for restoring posterior teeth mainly used zirconia crowns (68.2%, n = 303). Within the limitations of this study, the results have shown a wide use of full coverage aesthetic restorations, including the use of zirconia crowns, of primary teeth within this international sample of practicing dentists.