Cureus. 2026 Jul 30;18(7):e113679. doi: 10.7759/cureus.113679. eCollection 2026 Jul.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The Hall technique (HT) manages dental caries in primary molars by sealing the lesion with a preformed metal crown, a minimally invasive strategy aimed at arresting the disease process. Although convincing evidence of efficacy is available, global acceptance varies. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Jordanian pediatric dentists regarding the HT and its main features.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire distributed to Jordanian pediatric dentists from November 1 to 30, 2025. The questionnaire surveyed demographics, knowledge (rationale, indications), attitudes (efficiency, evidence-based), and practices (current use, challenges, concerns). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binomial logistic regression were used to identify predictors of HT implementation among 120 participants.
RESULTS: Most respondents were female (103/120, 85.8%) and board-certified (91/120, 75.8%). The rationale for caries arrest by sealing with the HT was understood by 118/120 (98.3%) of the respondents. The frequency of HT use was 104/120 (86.7%). Years of clinical practice were significantly associated with the perception that HT is best for uncooperative patients (p = 0.031), and belief in medical contraindications was associated with reduced HT use (p = 0.024). The main concerns were occlusion (65/120, 54.2%), sealing over caries (54/120, 45.0%), and parental acceptance (54/120, 45.0%). The majority perceived HT as a time-saving method (111/120, 92.5%), and the attitudes were generally positive. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the belief in time-saving (OR = 8.58, 95% CI: 2.09-35.21, p = 0.003) and evidence base (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.37-19.81, p = 0.015) were significant positive predictors for HT use, whereas the concern of parental acceptance (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.65, p = 0.005) and sealing over caries (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.89, p = 0.027) were significant negative predictors. The model explained 28.4-45.2% of the variance in HT use and was a good fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow p = 0.342).
CONCLUSION: Pediatric dentists in Jordan had a high level of knowledge of and use of the HT, with adoption rates higher than in many other countries. A positive perception of time efficiency and evidence-based belief strongly favor clinical use, while concerns about parental acceptance and sealing over caries are the main barriers to consistent implementation.
PMID:42669021 | PMC:PMC13525859 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.113679
