A study to compare Hall techniue and traditional technique for stainless steel crown placement in childrens teeth and their effects on comfort and treatment outcome

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Dental caries, unspecified,

• Registration Number: CTRI/2025/04/085383
• Lead Sponsor: Dr. Gunjan Barot

Brief Summary

Dental caries in children is a widespread concern, with over 530 million children affected globally. In India, early childhood caries prevalence ranges from 27% to 58%. While conventional restorative methods like amalgam or stainless steel crowns (SSCs) with tooth preparation are commonly used, minimally invasive alternatives such as the Hall Technique are gaining popularity. Introduced by Dr. Nora Hall in 2006, the Hall Technique involves placing preformed metal crowns over carious primary molars without local anesthesia, tooth preparation, or caries removal. It aims to arrest caries progression by sealing off the biofilm and depriving it of substrates, thus reducing its cariogenicity.

Despite its advantages, the Hall Technique can cause temporary discrepancies in occlusion and increased occlusal vertical dimension (OVD), raising concerns about temporomandibular dysfunction (TM-D), gingival health, and long-term occlusal adaptation. Limited research exists comparing its efficacy and physiological effects with conventional SSC placement.

This randomized controlled study aims to assess and compare both techniques on several parameters: OVD changes, overbite restoration, TM-D symptoms, gingival health, treatment time, anxiety levels, and clinical and radiographic outcomes. Measurements such as OVD and overbite will be recorded at multiple intervals using digital photo analysis and Vernier calipers. TM-D will be assessed via a structured questionnaire, and gingival status will be evaluated using the Loe and Silness Gingival Index.

The study hypothesizes no significant difference between the two methods. By comprehensively evaluating both techniques, the research seeks to determine whether the Hall Technique can be a superior alternative to conventional methods in pediatric dentistry, especially in terms of efficiency, patient comfort, and long-term oral health outcomes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-23
• Study Start: 2025-09-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• 1. 5-9 years of age 2) No systemic illness 3) Angle’s class I molar relation or flush terminal plane/ Mesial step in children 4) Class I and class II carious lesions extending to dentin (ICDAS 4 &5) in deciduous molars.
• 5. Primary first molars with at least 2/3rd roots present radio graphically.
• 6. No symptoms of periapical infection or irreversible pulpitis.
• 7. Antagonist primary molar present.
• 8. Detectable cervical constriction is present.
• 9. At least two surfaces and at least a part of occlusion are left intact.
• 10. Willingness to attend the appointments/parental consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• 1. The teeth with signs and symptoms of irreversible pathology.
• 2. Children with any inter-canine relation other than class I.
• 3. Children with systemic conditions requiring special dental considerations.
• 4. Children who are not cooperative during the clinical examination.
• 5. Anterior- posterior cross bite.
• 6. Bleeding when probing around the tooth to be treated.
• 7. Children with previously diagnosed Temporomandibular joint disorder.
• 8. Children with obvious facial asymmetry or developmental anomalies detected by inspection.
• 9. Children with Para-functional habits, tooth mobility, malocclusion.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Occlusal	0- pre treatment | 1- immediately after the treatment | 2- after 07 days of treatment | 3- after 14 days of the treatment | 4- after 28 days of the treatment | 5- after 45 days of treatment
Vertical Dimension (OVD) after placement of Stainless Steel Crown with Hall Technique	0- pre treatment | 1- immediately after the treatment | 2- after 07 days of treatment | 3- after 14 days of the treatment | 4- after 28 days of the treatment | 5- after 45 days of treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
presence of Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) pain,	gingival health and the clinical and radiographic condition of the restored tooth

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Karnavati School of Dentistry; 🇮🇳 Gandhinagar, GUJARAT, India

Karnavati School of Dentistry

🇮🇳Gandhinagar, GUJARAT, India

Dr Gunjan Barot

Principal investigator

6359319898

barotgunjan98@gmail.com