Stainless Steel Crown
A preformed metal crown used primarily in paediatric dentistry to restore primary or young permanent molars with extensive decay or following pulp therapy.
Full Definition
A stainless steel crown (SSC) is a prefabricated full-coverage restoration manufactured from surgical-grade stainless steel, available in a range of sizes to fit primary and permanent molars. SSCs are indicated when a tooth is too extensively damaged for conventional restorations, after pulpotomy or pulpectomy, or for patients requiring treatment under general anaesthesia where durability is prioritised. Editors will encounter the abbreviation 'SSC' in paediatric dental records and should ensure it is defined at first use. The term should not be confused with a laboratory-fabricated 'cast metal crown'.
Usage
Usage note: The abbreviation 'SSC' is widely used in paediatric dental records. 'Hall crown' refers specifically to a variant SSC technique placed without local anaesthesia or tooth preparation; these terms are not interchangeable.
In Context
- "Following pulpotomy on the lower-left first primary molar, a stainless steel crown was cemented using glass ionomer luting cement." — Paediatric dental treatment notes
- "The consent form must clearly state that the SSC is a temporary restoration and will exfoliate with the primary tooth." — Patient consent document