Use of Preformed Metal Crowns to Restore Primary Molars in Scottish General Dental Practice

Abstract

Aim To assess Scottish general dental practitioners’ (GDP) knowledge, practices, facilitators, and challenges regarding the use of preformed metal crowns (PMC) to manage caries in primary molars.

Methods A postal invitation was sent to all dental practices in Scotland that are registered under the NHS asking them to participate in an online survey.

Results Sixty-six general dentists around Scotland responded. 77.2% of participants currently use PMC to treat caries in primary molars, with 96.2% of those who use PMC predominately utilising the Hall Technique. A significant association was found between the use of PMC and how many paediatric patients the dentists see per week, if they found PMC to be more time-consuming than conventional fillings or not, and if they found PMC beneficial for nervous patients. Not requiring local anaesthesia was found to be a significant facilitator of using HTPMC. Dentists who did not perceive material availability, low compensation, or high costs as barriers reported placing PMCs more frequently, and this association was statistically significant.

Conclusion PMCs were widely utilised among the participants of the study predominantly using the Hall Technique preformed metal crown (HTPMC). Not requiring local anaesthesia was a significant facilitator to using HTPMC, while the main barrier was low compensation and high cost of material. The majority of respondents showed good knowledge of the use of PMC but were interested in further training.