An overview of preformed metal crowns part 2: the hall technique

In the previous paper the indications, evidence and use of the ‘conventional technique’ for placing preformed metal crowns (PMCs) were described. This second article on the use of PMCs will discuss the Hall Technique. In England, 27.9% of 5-year-olds have experience of dentinal caries at an epidemiological level.1 More significantly, the Care Index (the percentage of teeth which require restoration, which are restored) is only 11.2%. The true prevalence is of course much higher, as a thorough clinical examination supported by radiographs would detect many more lesions, at a time when they would be more likely to result in a successful restoration because the caries would be less advanced than those presenting later, when the carious teeth are unrestorable. Reasons suggested for a lack of restoration of primary teeth include:

Furthermore, the success of restorations placed in primary dental care has previously been questioned in a retrospective case note study.4 Conversely, a much larger cohort study has clearly demonstrated, in 2,654 British children aged 4–5 years at baseline, that the survival of restored primary molar teeth is much better than for unrestored molars.5