Stainless-steel crowns (SSCs) are recommended for restorative treatment of young teeth severely affected by caries, fractures or dental developmental disorders (DDDs). However, despite recommendations and clinical evidence, SSCs are not widely used by general dentists, who favour extraction and more conventional restorations. The present study aimed to investigate the views of and use of SSCs among Norwegian and Finnish dentists.

This study showed that the majority of Danish dentists taking part of this survey had adopted a minimally invasive approach for the management of erosive tooth wear in young adults. There was however room for improvements in diagnosis, scoring and case documentation

This survey shows that Finnish dentists are rather homogeneous in their treatment decisions when managing primary tooth caries or a severely affected MIH tooth, although some practices vary between general and specialised dentists. Moreover, the disparity in treatment practices between different areas of Finland is evident. The proportion of SSC as a material choice was low. Patient co-operation plays a big role in treatment decisions and may explain why GICs were the most popular choice for restoring extensive primary tooth caries. The emphasis should be on behavioural management as well as on the evidence-based treatment recommendations.

When dentists are treating children with dental caries or DDDs, they must decide the most appropriate treatment in each case. The results of the present study showed a notable disparity between clinician’s
treatment choices. In summary, the clinicians based their treatment choice mostly on patient cooperation, prognosis of the tooth and own experience. The results indicate that Norwegian dentists in PDS evaluate each case individually and base their decisions on what they consider is the best for the individual child.