Protocol for the Hall Technique study: A trial to measure clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of stainless steel crowns for dental caries restoration in primary molars in young children

Abstract

Background: The Hall Technique (HT) is a carious primary molar treatment that does not require local analgesia, carious tissue removal or tooth preparation. The carious lesions in carefully selected teeth are sealed with a stainless steel crown (preformed metal crown). The study aims are to determine the clinical effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the HT for management of carious lesions in young dental patients. Methods/design: Children, aged 3-7. years, with a primary molar tooth with a carious lesion extending no further than the middle third of dentine, with no signs or symptoms of pulp inflammation or infection, and attending one of three community agencies are recru..