What do systematic reviews say?

Hall technique vs Conventional restoration

The reported estimate for treatment discomfort with the Hall Technique versus conventional restorations was inconclusive (ungraded).

• Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. 2022 All outcomes

  During treatment
  RR 1.67 [0.65, 4.25]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Atraumatic restorative treatment vs Conventional treatment with local anaesthesia

The reported estimate for discomfort with ART versus conventional treatment was inconclusive (ungraded).

• Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. 2022 All outcomes

  During procedure · Children 6-8 years; ART vs conventional treatment with local anaesthetic
  OR 0.95 [0.51, 1.79]
  6 studies · 1107 participants
  GRADE not reported

Laser enamel preparation alone (Er,Cr:YSGG or CO2 laser) vs Acid-etching (phosphoric acid)

Both laser and acid-etching preparation were well accepted by patients (VAS, P = 1.000; ungraded, single study).

• The clinical effects of laser preparation of tooth surfaces for fissure sealants placement: a systematic review and… 2019 All outcomes

  Clinical (in vivo pit-and-fissure sealant placement)
  Kumar 2016 (Er,Cr:YSGG laser vs acid-etching): patient acceptance scored on a visual analogue scale; both preparations well accepted, P = 1.000; no significant difference.
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Preformed crown (any material; conventional technique or Hall Technique) vs Filling (any material; with or without complete carious tissue excavation; with or without pulp treatment)

Preformed crown (any material; conventional technique or Hall… probably leads to lower discomfort associated with the procedure compared with filling (any material; with or without complete carious tissue… (moderate certainty).

• Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At time of dental appointment or within 24 hours
  RR 0.56 [0.36, 0.87]
  2 studies · 381 participants
  Moderate

Hall technique vs Non-restorative caries treatment

It is very uncertain whether preformed metal crown (fitted using the Hall Technique) changes discomfort associated with the procedure compared with non-restorative caries treatment (very low certainty).

• Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately after treatment
  RR 1.67 [0.65, 4.25]
  1 study · 104 participants
  Very low

Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur)

• Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  during treatment
  Five studies reported participant discomfort (Belcheva 2014; Evans 2000; Hadley 2000; Keller 1998; Liu 2006). Keller 1998 (90 adults): discomfort significantly lower with laser (Analysis 1.6). Hadley 2000 (66 adults):…
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Repair of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam) vs Replacement of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: amalgam 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Medium term (less than 5 years) or long term (5 years and above)
  No randomised controlled trials were found
  0 studies
  No studies found

Repair of a defective resin composite restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with resin composite) vs Replacement of a defective resin composite restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with resin composite)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: resin composite 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Medium term (less than 5 years) or long term (5 years and above)
  No randomised controlled trials were found
  0 studies
  No studies found

30% silver diamine fluoride vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART)

One study found no significant difference in patient discomfort between SDF and ART (p = 0.15; ungraded).

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic Review… 2022 All outcomes

  During/after the treatment procedure · Pediatric dental care in hospital, community/school and outpatient settings (Saudi Arabia, China, India, Brazil, Spain)
  Only one study assessed patient discomfort during treatment (SDF vs ART) using the patient's anxiety scale, obtaining almost overlapping results (p = 0.15).
  1 study · 67 participants
  GRADE not reported

High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART restorations vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments)

ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand… showed no clear difference in participant experience (discomfort during procedure) compared with conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments); GRADE not reported.

• Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Multiple lesions, children 6 to 8 years
  OR 0.95 [0.51, 1.79]
  1 study · 220 participants
  GRADE not reported