367 - Dental Student Perception of Children with Stainless Steel vs. Zirconia Crowns

Purpose: To investigate whether dental students hold negative perceptions of children with SSCs compared to esthetic zirconia crowns, regarding behavior and SES.

Methods: A voluntary online survey utilizing Qualtrics was distributed to students at the Texas A&M University (TAMU) College of Dentistry. The survey included demographics and questions regarding perception of behavior and SES using Ai rendered intraoral clinical photos (only oral cavity displayed to limit bias) of children with SSCs/Zirconia crowns. Free response questions were included for both photos allowing participant to type out their initial impression response. Behavior perception settings included; 1) Dental Appointment 2) School 3)Home. (Likert scale was used) SES included; 1) High SES 2) Middle SES 3) Low SES

Results: A thematic analysis was used to analyze survey participant’s initial impression free responses. The dominant themes for a child with SSCs included; High Caries Risk & Poor Oral Health History, Negative Behavioral Assumptions, Low SES Associations, and Reactive / Late Treatment Pattern. The dominant themes for a child with Zirconia crowns included; Good Oral Hygiene & Preventive Care, Positive Behavior & Cooperation, Higher SES, and Esthetic-Driven Parenting.
McNemar-Bowker statistical tests were used to examine if there was a difference in perception between SSCs and Zirconia crowns regarding behavior and SES. There was a statistically significant difference for perception of behavior at a dental appointment (p <.05), at home (p <.05), and at school (p <.05). There was a statistically significant difference for perception of SES. (p <.05)

Conclusions: SSCs are associated with more negative behavioral and socioeconomic assumptions, while zirconia crowns are associated with more positive perceptions.
Future research should investigate parental perceptions of restorative materials to better understand how these factors may influence treatment decisions.