Atraumatic restorative treatments reduce the need for dental general anaesthesia: a non‐inferiority randomized, controlled trial

Background A dental general anaesthesia (DGA) is commonly undertaken for the management of dental caries in young children. A randomized‐controlled trial was undertaken to test the feasibility of using the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and Hall Technique approaches (ART/HT) to manage the dental treatment of children recommended for a DGA. Methods Consenting children, recommended a DGA for caries management, at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia were randomized. Test group children were treated using the ART/HT approach and the control group under a DGA. Children were examined after 12 months by two blinded, calibrated examiners. Analysis was on an intention to treat basis; between and within group comparisons were undertaken using appropriate paired and unpaired tests. Logistic regression was used to test restorative success, controlling for clustering of teeth. Results Sixty‐five children participated, (Test = 32; Control = 33). At study termination, 28 children (88%) in the ART/HT group and 20 children (61%) in the DGA group had been provided with care, P