Silver, White, or Colored Crowns for Kids? A Parent's Guide
If your child needs a crown on a baby tooth, your dentist may mention a few options: a silver stainless steel crown, a white (tooth-colored) crown, and now colored crowns. Here is a plain-language guide to how they differ, so you can have an easy conversation with your child's dentist.
Why baby teeth get crowns
When a cavity in a baby molar is too large for a filling, or the tooth needed a nerve treatment, a crown covers the whole tooth and protects it until it falls out naturally. Keeping that baby tooth healthy matters: it holds space for the adult tooth and lets your child chew and speak normally.
Option 1: Silver stainless steel crowns
Stainless steel crowns have been the standard for back baby teeth for decades. They are strong, quick to place, usually done in one visit, and widely covered by dental insurance, including Medicaid.
The trade-off: they are shiny silver. Many kids don't mind at first, but some become self-conscious about a metal tooth over time.
Option 2: White (tooth-colored) crowns
White crowns, usually made of zirconia (a strong ceramic) or composite resin, are designed to blend in with natural teeth. They are a popular choice for front teeth.
The trade-offs: zirconia crowns typically require removing more tooth structure, the appointment can take longer, and they can cost more. Insurance may cover them only at the rate of a silver crown, which can leave a difference for families to pay. Ask your dentist and your plan.
Option 3: Colored stainless steel crowns
Colored crowns, like Prismo Crowns, are the same proven stainless steel crown dentists already use, in kid-friendly colors: Gold, Royal Purple, Sapphire Blue, and Unicorn. The color comes from a patented laser-assisted process with no dye, paint, or coating.
- Same procedure: placed exactly like a traditional silver crown, typically in one visit.
- Same billing code: billed under the same dental code as a silver stainless steel crown. Your dentist's office can confirm coverage with your plan.
- Your child chooses: instead of something that happens to them, the crown becomes something they picked.
Quick comparison
| Silver | White (zirconia) | Colored (Prismo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel | Ceramic | Stainless steel |
| Look | Metallic silver | Tooth-colored | Gold, purple, blue, or unicorn |
| Procedure | Standard | More tooth reduction | Same as silver |
| Billing | Standard crown code | May exceed what insurance pays | Same code as silver |
| Child gets to choose | No | No | Yes |
Why letting kids choose a color matters
Pediatric dentists have long known that giving children a sense of control helps them feel calmer in the dental chair. Research on colored restorations in children points the same way: when kids can pick a color, studies have found less anxiety and better cooperation during treatment, and one recent study found better oral hygiene at home among children who chose colored restorations.
A crown a child is proud to show off is one they are more likely to take care of. Read more in Your Child Needs a Crown: Here's What to Expect.
Questions to ask your child's dentist
- Which tooth needs a crown, and why is a filling not enough?
- Which crown types do you offer for this tooth?
- What will my insurance cover for each option?
- Do you offer colored crowns like Prismo?
The bottom line
Every option above protects the tooth. The difference is how your child feels about it. If your child's dentist does not carry Prismo Crowns yet, let them know about us. Dentists can learn more and order at prismocrowns.com.