Use of stainless steel crowns to restore primary molars in Germany: Questionnaire-based cross-sectional analysis

Background: Stainless steel crowns (SSCs) have shown substantial clinical success and are the restoration of choice to treat multisurface carious primary molars. Aim: To evaluate the use of and views on SSCs for treating primary molars in Germany. Methods: This is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, which assessed the views of dentists and dental schools on the use of SSCs (conventional and the Hall Technique [HT]) in Germany. Dentists were randomly selected (n = 267) and contacted by telephone, and a self-administered questionnaire was sent to all German dental schools (n = 27). Results: A total of 104 (39%) dentists agreed to participate. The majority of respondents (66%) do not use SSCs, being the main drawbacks: technique complexity (29%) and aesthetic concerns (23%). The majority of respondents (77%) were not familiar with the HT. The response rate from the universities was 85%. In 96% of the dental schools, the value of using SSCs is taught; however, in 27%, no practical training is provided. In addition, the dental schools' questionnaire revealed that the HT was known (91%), but neither taught to nor used for most of the dental students (76%). Conclusion: Independent of the technique used, SSCs are considerably underutilized in the dental practice in Geiniany, although SSCs are well accepted by the universities, however, predominantly using the conventional approach.