Lay summary
Approximately 50% of NZ 5-year-olds have dental decay, with significant disparities by ethnicity and region. A new technique for managing decay, the Hall Technique, has shown excellent clinical outcomes, both internationally and in New Zealand (the latter in an HRC-funded Feasibility Study in Hawke’s Bay). The Hall Technique places a stainless steel crown over a tooth without a drill or injection. However, recent findings from a study of Northland children suggest that the Hall Technique elicits discomfort; the reasons for or extent of that discomfort is not known. This study will qualitatively explore factors that shape children’s experiences of treatment using the Hall Technique, through during-treatment and post-treatment video interviews with children and clinicians. Data will be analysed thematically to identify factors affecting children’s experiences of the Hall Technique and will inform modifications to improve acceptability to children, especially those with the most severe disease.