Clinical Performance of Strip vs Zirconia Crowns in 2-6-year-old: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract

Aim: To assess and evaluate the clinical performance of strip crowns and zirconia crowns as full coverage restorations in children aged 2-6 years, with a focus on gingival health, retention, and recurrent caries.

Materials and methods: The current systematic review was drafted by following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Major electronic databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, ProQuest, registers, or gray literature and other reports such as websites, organizations, citations, etc., were thoroughly searched to find publications from 1995 up to January 2024. Following the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) guideline: (i) Population: maxillary primary anterior teeth in 2-6-year-old children, (ii) Intervention: Zirconia crowns, (iii) Comparison: Strip crown, (iv) Outcome: plaque accumulation, gingival bleeding, recurrent caries, and crown retention were considered. Randomized clinical trial published in English comparing zirconia crowns and strip crowns among 2-6-year-old children are included.

Results: Out of 446 studies initially identified, 441 were excluded due to duplication, non-English language, or not meeting inclusion criteria. Five studies that met the necessary criteria for quantitative and qualitative analysis were included. Zirconia crowns showed lower gingival bleeding, better retention, and no secondary caries compared to strip crowns at 3, 6, and 12 months, with minimal publication bias. However, the differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Zirconia crowns demonstrate reduced gingival bleeding, superior retention, and an absence of secondary caries over 6, 9, and 12 months in maxillary primary anterior teeth among children aged 2-6 years.

Clinical significance: In children aged 2-6 years, zirconia crowns are highly suitable for long-term restorations due to their superior durability, esthetics, and ability to enhance patient satisfaction. They are ideal for cases where functional and esthetic outcomes are priorities. Conversely, strip crowns serve as a practical option for temporary or intermediate restorations, offering a less invasive and cost-effective solution for managing primary teeth until definitive treatment is required. How to cite this article: Dongarwar RA, Kalaskar RR, Pipare SR, et al. Clinical Performance of Strip vs Zirconia Crowns in 2-6-year-old: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(1):93-102.