Comparison of the Hall Technique and Conventional Compomer Restorations: A 60-Month Follow-up

Abstract

Objective: The Hall Technique is one biological strategy for sealing carious lesions with preformed metal crowns in primary molars. This study aimed to compare the Hall Technique's survival rate with conventional compomer restorations in caries management in primary molars for 60 months. Methods: Children with preformed metal crowns placed with Hall Technique and conventional compomer restorations were invited to Pediatric Dentistry Clinics for a 60-month follow-up. The restorations of these children were evaluated clinically and radiographically. Dental health records of 12 and 24-month follow-up appointments were obtained from the electronic archive. The survival rate of the restorations was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the success/failure of the restorations by the Chi-Square test. Restorations with finding such as secondary caries, pulpitis, restoration wear/fracture/loss, crown perforation, inter-radicular radiolucency, and internal root resorption were scored according to major and/or minor failure criteria, while satisfactory ones were scored as successful. Results: Twenty-six primary molars were included in the study. There was no significant difference in the survival rates of preformed metal crowns placed with the Hall Technique (92.3%) and conventional compomer restorations (84.6%) at 60-month follow-up (2 = 2.455, p = .48). The Hall Technique (84.6%) was found significantly more successful clinically and radiographically compared to conventional compomer restorations (23.1%) according to the success or failure criteria in 60-month follow-up (p < .01). Conclusion: The Hall Technique was clinically and radiographically more successful than conventional compomer restorations according to the success or failure criteria at 60-month follow-up. The Hall Technique had a similar survival rate to the conventional compomer restorations as well as low failure findings in caries management in primary molars.