Evaluation of Parents and Child Satisfaction Toward Primary Molar Restoration with Preformed Metal Crowns and Its Impact on Child Bullying

Q: What was the objective of this study?

To assess the psychosocial impact of stainless steel crowns among primary school children, focusing on bullying experiences, child satisfaction, and parental perception.

Q: How was bullying and satisfaction measured?

A cross-sectional survey used a validated, self-administered questionnaire completed by children and their parents, assessing bullying related to SSCs, satisfaction with appearance, and perceived impact.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan

This cross-sectional study evaluates the psychosocial impact of stainless steel crowns (SSCs) on primary school children in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing bullying experiences, child satisfaction, and parental perception. Data were collected in June 2025 from 123 children aged 6–10 years and their parents using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Bullying was reported by 39.0% of children, mainly verbal teasing, and aesthetic satisfaction rates were low for shape and color. Although parental satisfaction was higher, most parents did not believe full acceptance occurred, supporting child-centered and esthetic-considerate care.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

1. Introduction

School bullying and psychosocial consequences

Dental appearance and social outcomes

Stainless steel crowns and aesthetic limitations

Study rationale

Article Evaluation of Parents and Child Satisfaction Toward Primary Molar Restoration with Preformed Metal Crowns and Its Impact on Child Bullying Abdulfatah Alazmah Academic Editor: Saverio Capodiferro Received: 29 September 2025 Revised: 9 November 2025 Accepted: 23 December 2025 Published: 26 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; [a.alazmah@psau.edu.sa](a.alazmah@psau.edu.sa) Abstract Objective: This study aimed to assess the psychosocial impact of stainless steel crowns (SSCs) among primary school children in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, focusing on bullying experiences, child satisfaction, and parental perception. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2025 among 123 children (mean age 7.8 years; 52% male) from two randomly selected schools. Schools were chosen using simple random sampling from a Ministry of Education-approved list. All children aged 6–10 years with at least one SSC placed for six months or more were eligible. A validated, self-administered questionnaire completed by children and their parents assessed bullying related to SSCs, satisfaction with the crown’s appearance, and perceived impact. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression to evaluate associations between variables (p < 0.05) . Results: Bullying was reported by 39.0% of children, primarily verbal (58.1%), followed by social exclusion (29.1%) . Although gender differences in bullying were not statistically significant (p = 0.829), boys more often reported nickname-based teasing (p < 0.001) . Only 35.0% of children were satisfied with the crown’s shape and 29.3% with its color. Nearly half (48.8%) felt uncomfortable when asked about it. In contrast, parental satisfaction was higher (69.1%), though only 42.3% believed their child had fully accepted the crown. Conclusions: While SSCs are clinically effective and accepted by most parents, a notable proportion of children experience bullying and aesthetic dissatisfaction. These findings highlight the need for child-centered care and consideration of esthetic alternatives. Keywords: child bullying; primary teeth; metal crowns; parents 1. Introduction Bullying in schools is a global issue that must be stopped due to its serious mental health School bullying is a pervasive global issue with well-documented psychological, emotional, and academic consequences. It can manifest in both direct forms—such as physical aggression (hitting, kicking) and verbal harassment (name-calling, threats)—and indirect forms, including social exclusion, rumor spreading, and manipulation of peer relationships. Verbal bullying, particularly name-calling, is the most prevalent and insidious form due to its repetitive and psychologically damaging nature [1] . Although bullying may occur in various settings, it most commonly takes place in or around schools [2,3] . A cross-national study conducted among 8–18-year-olds across 11 European countries found that approximately 20.6% reported experiencing bullying, with prevalence estimates varying widely depending on age group, geographical region, and study methodology. The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) also reported a bullying prevalence ranging from 21% to 64% across 19 low-and middle-income countries, highlighting the magnitude of this issue [4,5] . Bullying has been consistently associated with negative mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, reduced self-esteem, and poor academic performance. Long-term consequences may also include social withdrawal, behavioral issues, and criminal activity. A child’s mental well-being and personality development are in

FAQs

What was the objective of this study?

To assess the psychosocial impact of stainless steel crowns among primary school children, focusing on bullying experiences, child satisfaction, and parental perception.

How was bullying and satisfaction measured?

A cross-sectional survey used a validated, self-administered questionnaire completed by children and their parents, assessing bullying related to SSCs, satisfaction with appearance, and perceived impact.

What were the main findings about bullying and satisfaction?

Bullying was reported by 39.0% of children, mainly verbal teasing. Only 35.0% were satisfied with crown shape and 29.3% with color, while parental satisfaction was higher but belief in full child acceptance was lower.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan