Dental caries in children is a widespread concern, with over 530 million children affected globally. In India, early childhood caries prevalence ranges from 27% to 58%. While conventional restorative methods like amalgam or stainless steel crowns (SSCs) with tooth preparation are commonly used, minimally invasive alternatives such as the Hall Technique are gaining popularity. Introduced by Dr. Nora Hall in 2006, the Hall Technique involves placing preformed metal crowns over carious primary molars without local anesthesia, tooth preparation, or caries removal. It aims to arrest caries progression by sealing off the biofilm and depriving it of substrates, thus reducing its cariogenicity.

Despite its advantages, the Hall Technique can cause temporary discrepancies in occlusion and increased occlusal vertical dimension (OVD), raising concerns about temporomandibular dysfunction (TM-D), gingival health, and long-term occlusal adaptation. Limited research exists comparing its efficacy and physiological effects with conventional SSC placement.

This randomized controlled study aims to assess and compare both techniques on several parameters: OVD changes, overbite restoration, TM-D symptoms, gingival health, treatment time, anxiety levels, and clinical and radiographic outcomes. Measurements such as OVD and overbite will be recorded at multiple intervals using digital photo analysis and Vernier calipers. TM-D will be assessed via a structured questionnaire, and gingival status will be evaluated using the Loe and Silness Gingival Index.

The study hypothesizes no significant difference between the two methods. By comprehensively evaluating both techniques, the research seeks to determine whether the Hall Technique can be a superior alternative to conventional methods in pediatric dentistry, especially in terms of efficiency, patient comfort, and long-term oral health outcomes.