How Long Do Silver Caps Last on Kids?

If your child has just had a silver cap fitted — or a dentist has recommended one — the first question most parents ask is the same: how long will it last?

The short answer: a silver cap (properly called a stainless steel crown) is designed to last until the baby tooth underneath falls out on its own. For most children that means several years of service, with the cap coming out naturally with the tooth — no second procedure needed.

Why silver caps last so long

A silver cap covers the whole tooth, not just the damaged part. That's the key difference from a filling. On a baby molar with a large cavity, a filling has to hold onto what's left of the tooth — and baby teeth are smaller and softer than adult teeth, so big fillings on them can chip, leak or fall out and need redoing. A crown wraps the entire tooth in one smooth, sealed layer, so there's nowhere for decay to sneak back in around the edges.

That's why, for larger cavities in baby molars, a silver cap is often the more durable and more comfortable choice: one visit, one solution, and in many cases it's placed using the Hall technique — often with no drilling and no needle at all.

When does it come out?

Baby molars typically fall out somewhere between ages 10 and 12, and the cap simply comes out with the tooth, making way for the adult tooth underneath. The adult tooth is not affected by the crown sitting above it.

Caring for a silver cap

Is the silver colour a problem?

Silver caps are usually placed on back teeth, where they're barely visible when your child talks or smiles. Most kids are completely unbothered — plenty are proud of their "robot tooth" or "princess tooth". For front teeth, we'd talk through the options with you, because appearance matters more there.

The cost part

For eligible children, stainless steel crowns at Berala Dental are bulk-billed under the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) — Medicare pays the clinic directly for covered services, so there's no out-of-pocket cost. You can check your child's CDBS eligibility here.

Want the full picture on how these crowns work? See our stainless steel crowns page, or read why baby teeth matter for adult teeth. To have your child's tooth looked at, book online or call (02) 9649 6468. English, Arabic and Urdu are spoken at our clinic, and we look after families from Berala, Auburn, Lidcombe and across Sydney's Inner West.

This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised dental advice. Please see a dentist to discuss what's right for your child.