Minimally Invasive Access Cavities: A Benefit/Risk Analysis

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Minimally Invasive Dentistry

Background:

• Contemporary dentistry emphasizes tissue preservation and minimally invasive procedures.
• Advancements in dental equipment facilitate these conservative approaches.
• Mini-invasive access cavities in endodontics are gaining popularity for reducing tissue destruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on mini-invasive endodontic access cavities.
• To evaluate the impact of these cavities on tooth resistance, disinfection, and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of in vitro studies.
• Search limited to English-language articles published between 2010 and 2024.
• Analysis of studies focusing on reduced access cavity preparations.

Main Results:

• Reduced access cavities may preserve mechanical resistance but can compromise root canal disinfection.
• These techniques respect the original root canal path and obturation quality.
• Increased instrument deformation, fracture susceptibility, and treatment time were observed.
• Mini-invasive cavities have limitations and require careful case selection.

Conclusions:

• Mini-invasive endodontic access cavities offer benefits but have significant limitations.
• Successful application depends on careful case selection, considering difficulty and material availability.
• When used appropriately, these approaches can potentially improve the prognosis of endodontically treated teeth.