Stainless Steel Crown Success Using the Hall Technique: A Retrospective Study

Purpose: This retrospective study evaluated the clinical and radiographic success of stainless steel crowns (SSC) used to restore carious lesions in primary molars placed using both the traditional technique (involving complete caries removal and tooth reduction prior to placement of the SSC) and the Hall technique (involving no caries removal, no crown preparation, and no local anesthesia prior to placement of the SSC). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted using the patient records at a private pediatric dental practice where the Hall technique had been introduced as an alternative treatment to traditional SSC starting in June 2010. The inclusion criteria were caries lesions on a primary molar with no clinical or radiographic evidence of pulpitis, necrosis, or abscess, and follow up of at least 6 months, or until failure. Restoration success was graded using a 4-scale criteria based on presence or loss of the SSC, and need or not for further treatment associated with pulpal pathology or secondary caries. Patient demographic information was collected and summarized. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve along with 95% confidence intervals was used to evaluate clinical success. Results: 65 out of 67 (97%) Hall technique crowns (mean observation time: 15 months, range 4-37) and 110 out of 117 (94%) traditional technique crowns (mean observation time: 53 months, range 4-119) were successful. Conclusion: Findings of this study show a similar success rate for SSC placed with either the traditional technique or the Hall technique.