Perceptions and intended use of the Hall Technique among dentists in Saudi Arabia: an exploratory cross-sectional survey

Abstract

The Hall Technique (HT) is a minimally invasive approach for managing carious primary molars without local anesthesia, caries removal, or tooth preparation. Evidence on dentists’ perceptions and intended use of HT in Saudi Arabia remains limited. This exploratory study described self-perceived knowledge, intended use, perceived barriers, and self-reported perceived success among participating dentists and explored response patterns according to practitioner characteristics. An exploratory cross-sectional online survey used non-probability convenience sampling to recruit 230 licensed pediatric dentists and general dental practitioners across Saudi Arabia from September 1 to October 26, 2025. An adapted 35-item questionnaire assessed HT-related perceptions and intended use. The instrument underwent expert review but was not formally pilot-tested or psychometrically evaluated for internal consistency or test–retest reliability. Categorical data were summarized descriptively, and exploratory unadjusted associations were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square test or exact tests, as appropriate. Overall, 36.1% of respondents were very confident and 26.1% somewhat confident in the effectiveness of HT; 35.7% rated their knowledge as good and 27.0% as excellent. HT was more commonly regarded as a treatment option than as the treatment of choice for asymptomatic carious primary molars. The most frequently reported barriers were need for further training, parental resistance, and concerns regarding long-term success. Exploratory analyses indicated regional variation in perceived barriers ( p = 0.004) and an association between clinical experience and self-reported perceived success ( p = 0.009), largely because less experienced practitioners more often reported insufficient experience to judge perceived success. No statistically detectable associations with self-reported perceived success were observed for gender, professional sector, or geographic region. Among participating dentists, perceptions of HT were generally favorable, but intended use was selective. Given the non-probability online convenience sampling, potential selection and self-report biases, lack of formal psychometric validation of the adapted questionnaire, and unadjusted analyses, the findings should be regarded as descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than nationally representative or confirmatory. Future studies using formally validated instruments, more representative sampling strategies, and appropriately adjusted analyses are needed to confirm these patterns and identify factors associated with HT-related perceptions and clinical use.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Oral Health, 2026 · DOI ↗