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Updated: May 20, 2025

Dynamic Navigation in Endodontics: Guided Access Cavity Preparation by Means of a Miniaturized Navigation System
Published on: May 5, 2022
Patient-Centered Outcome Assessment of Static and Dynamic Navigation-Aided Endodontic Microsurgery: A Randomized
Chen Chen1, Rui Zhang1, Li Qin1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Cariology and Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and analgesic use 1 week after surgery, as well as the surgical duration, associated with static navigation (SN) and dynamic navigation (DN)-aided endodontic microsurgery (EMS).
Methods:
Sixty patients were randomly assigned to the SN group (n = 30) or the DN group (n = 30). Both groups underwent EMS based on a presurgical plan. The primary outcomes were patient-reported QoL and analgesic use during the first week, while the secondary outcome was the duration of guided procedures, including osteotomy and root-end resection. QoL was assessed using a visual analog scale-based questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated symptoms (pain, swelling, bleeding) and functional impact (mouth opening, chewing, talking, sleeping, daily routine), with average scores for each component calculated daily. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare QoL scores and surgery duration between groups, with statistical significance set at P < .05.
Results:
Postoperative adverse reactions within the first week after SN- and DN-aided EMS were short-lived, peaking early in the postoperative period and gradually subsiding. No significant differences were observed in QoL or analgesic use between the SN and DN groups. Participants in the SN group had significantly shorter surgery duration compared to DN group.
Conclusion:
Both SN and DN enable minimally invasive EMS with equivalent patient-centered outcomes, though SN demonstrates a significant advantage in reducing the duration of guided osteotomy and root-end resection. These findings provide patient-centered reference metrics to guide the selection between the 2 guided approaches in clinical practice.

