Protrusive Dental Podcast

Protrusive Dental Podcast


Zirconia vs Metal Hall Crowns vs Conventional with Dr Tim Keys – PDP227

June 12, 2025

Should we really restore primary molars without local anaesthetic or injections?

When should we start taking radiographs for child patients?

Is it time to say goodbye to traditional anterior strip crowns and embrace preformed zirconia crowns?

And seriously – how do you get a wiggly, fidgety child to sit still long enough for a solid restoration?! The secret lies in choosing a technique that’s both quick and effective!

In this episode, Dr. Tim Keys unpacks the real challenges of restoring primary teeth, breaking down the pros and cons of popular approaches like the Hall Crown technique, Pediatric Zirconia crowns, and conventional stainless steel crowns (SSCs).

Tune in for practical insights to make pediatric crown work less stressful and more successful – helping you find the best fit for your little patients.

https://youtu.be/VJm4TFKLXEA

Dr. Keys is also involved in dental education and offers courses through his platform, Kids Dental Tips. One of his upcoming courses is titled “Restorative Paediatric Dentistry,” a two-day event scheduled to be held in Brisbane.

Protrusive Dental Pearl: One of our best ever Protrusive Infographics! This week’s Pearl is a handy downloadable PDF infographic summarising the key points from this episode on Children’s Crowns Techniques. Grab your copy here!

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hall crown technique is a non-invasive approach to treating pediatric teeth.
  • Radiographs are essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning in children.
  • Case selection is crucial for the success of pediatric dental treatments.
  • Zirconia crowns have superior aesthetics over stainless steel crowns.
  • The success rate of intra-coronal fillings in primary molars is lower compared to crowns.
  • Zirconia crowns rarely fracture compared to strip crowns.
  • Mild supra-occlusion is acceptable in pediatric dentistry.
  • Hands-on experience is crucial for mastering crown techniques.

Highlights of this episode:

Key Article mentioned in this episode: Effectiveness, Costs and Patient Acceptance of a Conventional and a Biological Treatment Approach for Carious Primary Teeth in Children | Caries Research | Karger Publishers

#PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry

If you enjoyed this episode, you should check out PDP159 – How to Manage Children in Dental Pain.

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.

This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and C.

AGD Subject Code: 430 Pediatric Dentistry.

In this episode, Jaz and Dr. Tim Keys explore practical approaches to restoring pediatric teeth, focusing on the selection, preparation, and placement of direct restorations. They discuss material choices, clinical tips, and how to tailor techniques to improve outcomes and cooperation in young patients.

Dentists will be able to:

Understand the clinical indications and benefits of various crown techniques used in the restoration of pediatric teeth Recognise the importance of selecting appropriate cementation materials and techniques for different types of direct restorations in children Appreciate the key clinical considerations involved in the preparation and placement of a range of direct restorative techniques in pediatric dentistry https://media.blubrry.com/protrusive/content.blubrry.com/protrusive/PDP227.mp3