Evaluation of Clinical Performance of Stainless Steel Crowns and 3D-printed Resin Crowns in Primary Molars of Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: Digital dentistry has paved the way for the use of permanent resins, which are biocompatible and esthetic, as an alternative to stainless steel crowns (SSCs). So, this study evaluated and compared the clinical performance of SSCs and 3D-printed resin crowns (3D-PRCs) in pulpectomized primary molars in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This split-mouth randomized clinical trial was registered under the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) number: CTRI/2024/02/062466. Thirty-two children aged 6-9 years with 64 pulpectomized primary second molars requiring bilateral full-coronal restorations were randomly assigned to group I (SSCs) and group II (3D-PRCs). Survival rate, crown retention, and gingival health were assessed at 6 and 12 months. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier (KM), Mann-Whitney U, and Friedman tests. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed for survival rate and crown retention (p = 0.001) between the SSCs (100%) and 3D-PRCs (43.8%) at both intervals, whereas both groups experienced a slight deterioration of gingival health over the 12-month follow-up period, with no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: SSCs demonstrated superior performance in terms of crown retention, longevity, and gingival health. 3D-PRCs offered a distinct advantage in esthetic appeal. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The esthetic limitations and potential hypersensitivity reactions associated with SSCs underscore the need for economical and durable alternatives in pediatric restorative dentistry. Integrating these 3D-PRCs with refined fabrication techniques, enhanced retention strategies into clinical practice could significantly improve treatment acceptance and long-term oral health outcomes in children. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bhavana B, Surekha GL, Vineeth G, et al. Evaluation of Clinical Performance of Stainless Steel Crowns and 3D-printed Resin Crowns in Primary Molars of Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(8):1034-1040.