Stainless steel crowns are utilized when a tooth is decayed to the point that it will not hold regular fillings.
When placing a stainless steel crown, first the tooth decay is removed and the tooth is reduced in size. After this process is complete, a crown is chosen and shaped to fit precisely over the tooth with dental cement.

Some advantages to a stainless steel crowns include:

•    Their durability. A stainless steel crown is virtually unbreakable. It will usually last as long as you have the tooth.
•     Stainless steel crowns cover a tooth; therefore, no enamel is left open to further decay.
•    This is usually a onetime permanent fix for a tooth.

Stainless steel crowns require little to no maintenance. However, it is recommended that one avoid sticky food items, for a week or two, such as gum and sticky candies that could potentially dislodge the crown.