Clinical dental therapy practice
Working within scope
Dental therapy scope covers assessment, prevention, restorative care for primary teeth and appropriate permanent teeth in children and adolescents, pulpotomy of primary molars, preformed crowns including the Hall technique, extraction of primary teeth, local anaesthesia and management of dental trauma, with referral where the case exceeds your competence or scope. Behaviour guidance - tell-show-do, positive reinforcement, distraction - is a clinical skill, not an afterthought. Rubber dam and good moisture control determine restoration longevity.
Choosing the technique
For a deep primary molar lesion in a child who cannot cooperate for a conventional restoration, the Hall technique (sealed preformed crown without caries removal) is often better tolerated and has good evidence. For a small, accessible lesion with good isolation, adhesive restoration is appropriate. Always check medical history, allergy and current medicines before prescribing or using materials.
Worked example
A 5-year-old has a large cavitated lesion in 55, no spontaneous pain, no swelling, and cannot tolerate a bur. Hall technique on 55, preventive advice, and review. If there were spontaneous pain, sinus tract or mobility, pulpotomy or extraction and referral would need consideration instead.
Traps
Attempting root canal treatment on a permanent tooth (out of scope); using a material you have not been trained in; skipping the allergy check; failing to warn about post-operative sensitivity; treating without a clear record of what was done and why.