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Comparative Assessment of Fracture Resistance of Conservative and Conventional Access Cavity Preparation in Primary
Shalini Balaji1, Jagadheeswari Ramamoorthy1, K C Vignesh1
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Aim And Background:
Endodontic treatment is often necessary to preserve primary molars in children with dental caries. The design of the access cavity is a key factor influencing the tooth's fracture resistance. Hence, this study was conducted to compare the fracture resistance of primary molars prepared with conservative and conventional access cavity (CAC) designs.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 45 extracted human primary mandibular second molars were divided into three groups randomly: group I [conservative access cavity (ConAC)], group II (CAC), and group III (intact teeth, control). Access cavity preparation was performed according to the groups allocated. Root canal instrumentation was carried out using nickel-titanium rotary files, followed by irrigation with 1% sodium hypochlorite and normal saline using side-vented needles and a sonic irrigator. All teeth were obturated using calcium hydroxide and iodoform, followed by restoration with composite resin. Acrylic resin blocks were used to embed the teeth up to the cementoenamel junction. A Universal Testing Machine was used to test the fracture resistance. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05).
Results:
The intact teeth had the highest fracture resistance, followed by the conventional group, while the conservative group demonstrated greater deformation before failure. No statistically significant differences were observed.
Conclusion:
Conventional design provides enhanced mechanical stability compared to conservative designs, primarily due to improved stress distribution.
Clinical Significance:
The choice of access cavity design should consider clinical factors, including the tooth's structural integrity and treatment objectives.
How To Cite This Article:
Balaji S, Ramamoorthy J, Vignesh K, et al. Comparative Assessment of Fracture Resistance of Conservative and Conventional Access Cavity Preparation in Primary Molars: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(5):588-593.
