Endodontic access with different computer navigation systems in calcified root canals

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Navigation Technologies
• Computer-Aided Surgery

Background:

• Computer-aided navigation systems offer potential improvements for endodontic access cavity preparation.
• Challenges exist in preparing access cavities in teeth with calcified root canal systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of augmented reality (AR) navigation with static navigation (SN), dynamic navigation (DN), and freehand (FH) methods for endodontic access cavity preparation in mandibular teeth with calcified canals.

Main Methods:

• Forty extracted mandibular teeth with calcified canals were divided into four groups (n=10 each).
• Access cavities were prepared using SN, DN, AR, or FH methods.
• Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomographic scans were used to evaluate deviation between planned and actual preparations.

Main Results:

• Augmented reality (AR) navigation demonstrated significantly smaller deviations in dentin removal and cavity alignment compared to SN, DN, and FH methods.
• Significant deviations were observed coronally and apically across different navigation techniques and the freehand method.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality (AR) technology provides superior accuracy for endodontic access cavity preparation compared to SN, DN, and FH.
• AR navigation holds promise for clinical adoption in cases with obliterated root canal systems.