Evaluation of the effect of the hall technique on the masseter muscle using different techniques on primary secondary molars

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the changes in masseter muscles after Hall Technique and Modified Hall Technique in pediatric patients by ultrasonography method. 147 patients aged 4-7 years, who applied to Uşak University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pedodontics for routine examination or treatment, were included in the study after their intraoral examination and radiological evaluations. Of the patients participating in the study, 72 (49.3%) were male and 74 (50.7%) were female. The patients were divided into three equal groups. Standard Hall Technique was applied to 49 patients in the first group, and the Modified Hall Technique to 49 patients in the second group. The third group included 49 healthy children without any carious teeth and were considered as the control group. One patient in the Hall Technique group was excluded from the study due to failure to attend control appointments. In Hall Technique and Modified Hall Technique, a stainless steel crown was placed on a single tooth of the patients who were found to have caries in the primary second molar without any suspicion of pulpal infection. 23 (23.7%) of the crowns are on the right upper deciduous second molar, 19 (19.6%) on the left upper deciduous second molar, 27 (27.8%) on the left lower primary second molar, and 28 (on the right) 28.9) was applied to the left lower primary second molar. Ultrasonographic imaging measurement of the masseter muscle was performed in the third group without any restorative procedure (control group). The masseter muscle thicknesses were measured by ultrasonographic imaging, by calling the patients for control appointments at the beginning and at the 1st, 3rd and 6th months. In statistical analyzes, the evaluations made using Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis Test, Dunn Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, Friedman Test and Wilcoxon Test were presented as mean ± standard deviation and median (minimum – maximum). Significance level was taken as p<0.050. As a result of 6-month evaluations, both techniques showed 100% success radiologically and clinically.In masseter muscle thickness evaluations, a statistically significant thickening was observed in the contraction position in the Hall Technique and Modified Hall Technique groups as a result of the 1st month measurements (p=0.005, p<0.001). There was no significant change in the resting position. In the 6th month measurements, there was a decrease in both contraction and rest in the Modified Hall Technique group compared to pre-treatment, while a thickening was observed in the Hall Technique group compared to the baseline values. In the measurements made in the healthy group, a significant increase was observed in the resting position measurements of the masseter muscle (p<0.001), although it was not significant in the contraction position. Hall Technique and Modified Hall Technique can be a treatment alternative, especially in young patients with dental anxiety, considering the success of treatment. However, studies examining the effect of Hall Tekniği on muscles using ultrasonography are very limited. It is considered important to investigate the effect of Hall Tekniği on muscle and temporomandibular joints (TMJ) with a larger sample size and longer follow-up period.