title: The success of stainless steel crowns placed with the Hall technique: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this retrospective study, the authors evaluated the clinical and radiographic success of stainless steel crowns (SSCs) used to restore primary molars with caries lesions, placed by means of both the traditional technique (involving complete caries removal and tooth reduction before placement of the SSC) and the Hall technique (involving no caries removal, no crown preparation and no use of local anesthetic before placement of the SSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective chart review by using the patient records at a private pediatric dental practice at which the Hall technique had been introduced in June 2010 as an alternative treatment to traditional SSC placement. The inclusion criteria were caries lesions on a primary molar with no clinical or radiographic evidence of pulpitis, necrosis or abscess, as well as follow-up of at least six months or until failure, whichever came first. They graded restoration success by using a four-point scale based on presence or loss of the SSC, and whether or not the patient needed further treatment associated with pulpal pathology or secondary caries. They collected and summarized patient demographic information. They used a Kaplan-Meier survival curve along with 95 percent confidence intervals to evaluate clinical success.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors found that 65 (97 percent) of 67 SSCs placed with the Hall technique (mean observation time, 15 months; range, four-37 months) and 110 (94 percent) of 117 SSCs placed with the traditional technique (mean observation time, 53 months; range, four-119 months) were successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study show a similar success rate for SSCs placed with the traditional technique or the Hall technique.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ludwig is a pediatric dentist practicing in South Bend, Ind.
authors.forename: Kevin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Dr. Fontana is a professor, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Dr. Vinson is a clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: LaQuia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vinson
authors.affiliation: Dr. Platt is an associate professor of dental materials and Ralph W. Phillips Scholar in Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.affiliation: Dr. Dean is the Ralph E. McDonald Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and a professor of orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, and Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis. Address correspondence to Dr. Dean at Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Room 4205, Indianapolis, Ind. 46202-5109, e-mail jadean1@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003442:Crowns; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013193:Stainless Steel; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel
keywords: Pediatric dentistry; caries; caries lesions; crowns; dental care for children; dental cavity preparation; dental restoration; dental restoration failure