Zirconia vs steel: which crown keeps Kids' gums healthier?
NCT ID NCT07436325
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares two types of dental crowns for baby molars in 100 children aged 3-7. Each child gets a zirconia crown on one molar and a stainless steel crown on the opposite molar. Researchers will check gum health, plaque buildup, and parent satisfaction over 3 years to see which crown works better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Prefabricated zirconia crown (NuSmile® ZR) and stainless steel crown (3M™ ESPE™)
- What this could lead to
- If zirconia crowns prove better for gum health, they could become the preferred option for restoring baby molars in children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial (100 kids) comparing two established treatments, so any differences may be minor or not apply broadly. The study only looks at gum health, not long-term tooth survival.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 100 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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3 to 7 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Healthy children aged 3-7 years. 2. Bilateral primary molars requiring full-coverage restorations. 3. Adequate tooth structure (\>50% remaining post-preparation). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Children with moderate to severe baseline plaque accumulation (Silness \& Löe Plaque Index ≥2) or parents/caregivers reporting inconsistent brushing (\<2x/day). 2. Children with excessive sugar intake (\>3 sugary snacks/beverages daily), assessed via the Beverage and Snack Questionnaire. 3. Systemic diseases affecting oral health (e.g., immunocompromised status, diabetes mellitus). 4. Active periodontal disease or severe malocclusion. 5. Allergy to crown materials.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Qassim University
Buraidah, Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia