Sir, we write in response to the letter from J. F. Roberts and N. Attari (BDJ 2006; 200: 600–601) regarding our recent paper on the Hall technique.1

We are currently writing up the two year results of a randomised control clinical trial, run in general dental practice and, when published, the data should address many of the authors' concerns regarding the technique. Our main reason for replying, though, is to challenge the assumption which seems to be implicit within the letter that all is well with our current treatment methods for managing dental caries in children. Although we fully advocate vigorous preventive and restorative management of active dental caries, increasingly we are becoming less interested in bringing absolute excellence in dental care to a small minority of lucky children, who by happy accident of high parental income or geographical location, have access to dental care from highly skilled specialists such as Dr Roberts. Instead, we are more concerned about helping the majority of children achieve their basic human right of a childhood free from dental sepsis and pain. One does not, unfortunately, have to go looking 'in the field, in developing countries' [sic] for children whose dental needs are not being met.

We are evaluating the Hall technique scientifically, through audit, and a prospective randomised clinical trial, just as our colleague, Dr Foley, did for the copper cement our correspondents mentioned.2 That material was proved to be ineffective by that scientific research, so we now have an answer which we can show to its 'proponents, and proselytising disciples'. We are subjecting the Hall technique to the same rigorous process before advocating its widespread use, and we will continue to research into caries management techniques which may be as clinically effective, yet more acceptable to children and dental practitioners than some of the established restorative techniques seem to be. It is not often that academics might suggest to practising dentists that they take a look at what is going on outside their ivory tower, but we wonder if it might not be appropriate to do so here.