Hall Crown Exfoliation — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyPaediatric DentistryHall Crown ExfoliationORE Part 1

A child attends for review of a primary molar restored with a stainless steel crown using the Hall technique 18 months previously. The tooth is mobile and its permanent successor is erupting. There is no pain, swelling or crown-related problem. What is the most appropriate management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Observe and allow natural exfoliation

**A is correct.** A Hall crown normally remains cemented to the primary molar for the remainder of that tooth’s life. When physiological root resorption and eruption of the successor lead to exfoliation, the crown falls out with the primary tooth. Therefore, a mobile asymptomatic tooth with an erupting successor requires observation and routine advice only. Removing or sectioning a sound crown before natural shedding is unnecessary and invasive. Extraction, particularly under general anaesthesia, is not justified in an asymptomatic tooth already undergoing normal exfoliation. Replacing the crown is also inappropriate because the primary tooth is nearing loss rather than requiring further restoration.

Reference: Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. Stainless Steel Crowns Using the Hall Technique, 2025. https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/stainless-steel-crowns-using-the-hall-technique/