A Comparison between Hall's Technique and the Conventional Method of Managing Proximal Caries in Primary Teeth

The Hall Technique is a simple method of managing proximal caries in primary molars in which the carious lesion is sealed off by applying a stainless-steel crown to the primary molars without local anesthesia, removal of caries or tooth preparation. This study is aimed at evaluating the success of proximal dentinalcaries management in non-symptomatic lower primary molars using the Hall's technique against the conventional method.Furthermore, to assess the vertical occlusal dimension immediately after crown fixation and the time required for an occlusal equilibrium to be achieved. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 120 primary lower molars (60 first molars and 60 second molars) with nonsymptomatic proximal caries in 120 children of both sexes 6-7 years old. These molars,after being randomly distributed, were treated either by applying a stainless steel crown with Hall's technique or by conventional treatment with restoration with either amalgam or composite resin, and the cases were followed up within 6, 12, and 18 months to assess the success of the treatment clinically and radiographically. The vertical occlusal dimension was measured immediately after the application, and then evaluated after (2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months). Results: After 18 months of follow-up, the Hall technique's success rate was 100% clinically and radiologically, while the failure rate in the conventional treatment group was (13%), and most of the failures were on the first primary molar and in amalgam restorations.Balanced occlusion was restored in most cases (87%) within a month after intervention. Conclusions: After 18 months of follow-up, we could say that Hall's technique is an effective method in the management of proximal dentinalcaries and has superior success rates over the conventional approach.