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Ultrastructure and properties of primary carious molars treated using the Hall Technique
Author(s) -
Loch Carolina,
Jansen van Vuuren Ludwig,
Duncan Warwick J.,
Boyd Dorothy H.,
Foster Page Lyndie A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12681
Subject(s) - molar , medicine , dentistry , carious lesion , lesion , posterior teeth , ultrastructure , orthodontics , anatomy , pathology , enamel paint
Background The Hall Technique (HT) is a method of restoring decayed primary teeth using stainless steel crowns (SSCs) without tooth preparation, caries removal, or local anaesthetic. Aim To investigate the ultrastructural, biomechanical, and chemical characteristics of teeth managed with the Hall Technique in comparison with conventional SSC (controls). Design Twelve HT‐treated primary molars and four controls were analysed. Teeth were dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in methylmethacrylate, mesio‐distally sectioned, X‐rayed, mounted, and polished. Biomechanical, ultrastructural, and chemical characterisation was performed for carious lesion and sound areas of each specimen. Results Pre‐treatment and post‐treatment X‐rays showed evidence of little to no caries progression over time. In carious lesions, mean hardness and elastic modulus values were lower in HT‐treated teeth than in controls. In both controls and HT‐treated teeth, carious lesions had the lowest %wt of Ca and P of all tissues sampled. Conclusions Although the retained carious tissue was biomechanically more compromised in HT‐treated teeth, the Ca and P values were higher than reported elsewhere for carious lesions in primary molars, suggesting remineralisation may have occurred in caries in HT‐treated teeth. Future investigations will help elucidate the processes involved with carious lesion arrest under SSC.