The Hall Technique; Retrospective case-note follow-up of 5-year RCT

Background and aim Few paediatric dental restorative trials present outcomes for more than two years, leaving clinicians uncertain of long-term implications for their patients. This study aimed to establish the Hall Technique's success over the lifetime of primary teeth compared to conventional restorations (CR), by following up participants in the Tayside (Scotland), UK trial. Design Following the Phase 1 prospective, split-mouth randomised control trial with 132 children (264 teeth) in 17 general practices in Scotland, 142/264 (54%) teeth had reached an endpoint of exfoliation or extraction. Through practices, Phase 2 follow-up data were collected retrospectively from case-notes, using original trial outcomes. Phase 1/ 2 outcome data were combined. Results Data were obtained up until exfoliation/extraction for 184 teeth (73%) in matched pairs. Major failures: 16 CR; 4 HT (P = 0.0015); ARR = 0.13 (95%CI: 0.04;0.22), numbers needed to treat (NNT) 8 (95%CI: 4;25) favouring HT. Minor failures: 37 CR; 5 HT (P