- Hall Crowns -

When treatment is needed, we sometimes fit a stainless steel crown. We do this because ordinary fillings sometimes break and because a new cavity can easily develop next to the filling.

A stainless steel crown allows us to stop the decay process. Where possible, we use the Hall technique. With this technique we fit the stainless steel crown without drilling or anaesthetic. We tell the children that they are getting a real pirate’s or princess’s tooth. Guaranteed success!

What is a Hall crown?

A Hall crown is a small, ready-made metal cap for a baby molar with a cavity. The method is named after the Scottish dentist Norna Hall, who developed it.

This is how it works:

• we choose a crown that fits the tooth exactly;
• we fill it with a special dental cement and press it over the tooth, while your child bites down firmly for a moment;
• there is no drilling, no injection, and nothing is removed from the tooth.

This completely seals off the cavity. The bacteria inside no longer get any sugars from the mouth and cannot damage the tooth any further. Research in Scotland and Germany shows that for baby molars this works at least as well as an ordinary filling, and most children find it more pleasant.

For the first few days the bite feels a little high; within a few weeks this returns to normal by itself. The crown stays in place until the baby tooth falls out and the permanent tooth comes through. Good brushing and regular check-ups remain important.