Oral hygiene levels in primary molars restored with preformed metal crowns

INTRODUCTION: The choice of restoration material, the general health of the individual, and the distribution of caries in the different age groups is related to the level and the assessment of oral hygiene. In the treatment plan for these patients a preventive regime is necessary to be added, which includes instructions for oral hygiene improvement. AIM: The aim of this article is to examine the level of oral hygiene in primary molars restored with preformed metal crowns (PMCs) and glass-ionomer cement (GIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Object of the clinical study were 100 teeth with approximal dentin lesions on primary molars in 5- to 7-year-old children. The plaque index (PI) and the gingival index (GI) of Silness-Loe were used. RESULT: In the current study, Silness-Loе PI was assessed before PMC/GIC application, on the 6th month and after the first year of GIC/PMC placement. Around teeth restored with GIC more dental plaque was observed compared with the crowned teeth. PI was 1.35 for the filled teeth and 0.97 for the crowned ones. In both cases we reported moderate plaque accumulation and fair oral hygiene in the area of the first and second primary molar. The higher value of PI in the teeth restored with GIC was due to the higher rate of the minor failures of the fillings, which leads to plaque accumulation. There was no statistically significant difference in the GI for the GIC/PMC restorations at the 6th month and the first year after their application (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result, we concluded that PI for the teeth with PMCs was lower compared with the one in the natural control group of teeth. However, the average values of GI were significantly higher for the teeth with PMCs.