Simplified Method of Using Preformed Metal Crowns in Preschool Children

Objectives: To determine the success of the Hall Technique to manage caries within the outer half of dentine in pre-school children, and to determine the acceptability of the Hall Technique to clinicians, children and their carers.

Methods: The study is a non-controlled prospective clinical trial at a community clinic. Inclusion criteria: 3, 4 or 5 years-old on day of recruitment; no relevant medical history; one or two primary molars with caries within the outer half of dentine; no pulpal symptoms; dental radiographs available; no inter-radicular radiolucency on selected primary molar teeth; informed consent from parent and acceptance of treatment by child.  The Hypothesis is that the failure rate for the Hall Technique will be similar to the conventional SSC (7%) 12 months after insertion. Three dentists have been trained in placing crowns with emphasis on safety and diagnosis and have commenced placing 220 crowns.  Data being collected includes: time taken for procedure; occlusal vertical dimension change; and acceptability to child, parent and dentist. 

Results:  Weighted Kappa values of examiners showed >0.6 and >0.8 agreement with the gold standard for ICDAS II calibration.  Occlusion returned to baseline within 30 days.

Conclusions:  Occlusal vertical dimension changes are transitory and symptom free.

This presentation will discuss the study protocol and recruitment method, including calibration of examiners in the use of ICDAS II and a radiographic scoring method.