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Use of the Hall technique by specialist paediatric dentists: a global perspective

British Dental Journal volume 228, pages 33–38 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Background The Hall technique (HT) is popular with UK paediatric dentists (PDs). Global PDs perception/use of HT is unknown.

Aim To investigate global PDs opinions/use of HT.

Materials and methods A cross-sectional questionnaire of 26 questions was sent to specialist PDs across the globe.

Results Responses of 709 PDs from six continents were obtained. The majority (n = 654, 92.32%) had heard about HT but only 50.6% (n = 358) used it, with wide country variations. Respectively, 37.5%, 31.5% and 31% were neutral, against or supportive of HT when they initially heard about it. Only 17% of HT users said it was always the treatment of choice for non-pulpal asymptomatic carious primary molars (NPACPMs), 62% would take a pre-operative radiograph, 65% would consider using high speed drills before HT, 63% would never consider HT under general anaesthesia, 56% would use HT under N2O sedation. Finally, in a clinical scenario of a NPACPM in a cooperative 6-year-old, 75% of PDs would choose conventional restorative methods over the HT.

Conclusion The HT is recognised, but not used, by an outright majority of PDs across the globe. Identifiable barriers such as lack of training, perception as substandard dentistry and perceived lack of evidence reduced its use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Iyad Hussein, Manal Al Halabi, Mawlood Kowash & Anas Salami

  2. Faculty of Dentistry – McGill University, Montréal, Canada

    Nabil Ouatik

  3. Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic Of Korea

    Yeon-Mi Yang

  4. Faculty of Dentistry, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore

    Monty Duggal

  5. Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, USA

    Neeta Chandwani

  6. Leeds Dental Institution, Leeds, United Kingdom; Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

    Hani Nazzal

  7. University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Sondos Albadri & Amanda Roberts

  8. Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Suhad Al-Jundi

  9. University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

    Chioma Nzomiwu

  10. Cairo and Future universities, Cairo, Egypt

    Osama El Shahawy

  11. The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA

    Ali Attaie

  12. Armed Forces Hospital, King Abd Al Aziz Airbase, Al Khubar, Saudi Arabia

    Ossama Mohammed

  13. Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait

    Mona Al-Sane

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  1. Iyad Hussein
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  2. Manal Al Halabi
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Correspondence to Iyad Hussein.

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Hussein, I., Al Halabi, M., Kowash, M. et al. Use of the Hall technique by specialist paediatric dentists: a global perspective. Br Dent J 228, 33–38 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-1100-2

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