Dynamic Navigation in Guided Endodontics - A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to comprehensively assess the literature regarding the applications, accuracy, advantages and limitations of dynamic navigation in endodontics. METHODS: Case reports and laboratory studies in the English language, which used the Dynamic Navigation System (DNS) for endodontic application and assessed the accuracy of treatment, the time required for treatment and iatrogenic errors were included. PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science were searched for eligible articles (up to July 2021). Additional hand searching of four peer-reviewed endodontic journals and a grey literature search were also carried out. A risk of bias assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. Data were extracted based on endodontic application of DNS, tooth type, DNS brand, accuracy, iatrogenic errors, and time taken, followed by qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen articles (three case reports and eleven in-vitro studies) met the eligibility criteria and were included. The quality assessment revealed a low risk of bias, with mean scores of 83.34% for case reports and 84.09% for in-vitro studies. DNS was used for various clinical applications such as access cavity preparation, pulp canal obliteration, endodontic retreatment and microsurgery. The DNS brands used were Navident, X-guide, ImplaNav, and DENACAM. Due to the nature of the component studies, meta-analysis was not possible. CONCLUSION: Challenging clinical situations like pulp canal obliteration, conservative access preparation, endodontic retreatment and microsurgery can be managed efficiently with fewer iatrogenic errors in a shorter time using DNS. However, this systematic review's evidence is low since the included articles are either case reports or in-vitro studies. Clinical studies are needed to test DNS efficacy among operators, including those who are less proficient and compare the accuracy of currently available systems.

Removal of accumulated hard tissue debris from mesial root of mandibular molars evaluated using micro-CT - a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Aim The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to identify the best irrigant activation technique (IAT) for the removal of accumulated hard tissue debris (AHTD) from the mesial root of mandibular molars evaluated using micro-CT studies.Methods The research question was based on the PICO format. Four electronic databases - PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science - were searched for articles up to June 2020. Selected articles were assessed for bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical appraisal tool. The network meta-analysis using a fixed-effects model and SUCRA ranking were performed. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the CINeMA framework.Results Eleven studies were included for qualitative synthesis while seven were included for quantitative synthesis. The risk of bias of all included articles was low. The results based on SUCRA values revealed the IAT shock wave-enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (100%) resulted in the greatest reduction of the volume of AHTD from mesial roots of mandibular molars. Ranking of the other IATs was as follows: photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (87%), laser-activated irrigation (79.3%), XP EndoFinisher (71.2%), ultrasonically activated irrigation (59.6%), apical negative pressure (42.3%), EasyClean (37.4%), EDDY (26.2%), EndoActivator (24.2%), self-adjusting file (11.6%) and needle irrigation (11.3%).Conclusion None of the IATs rendered the root canals completely free of AHTD. The laser-activated irrigation groups fared better than all other interventions in reducing AHTD from the mesial roots of mandibular molars. The confidence rating ranged from low to high for indirect evidence and moderate to high for mixed evidence. Results must be interpreted with caution due to the laboratory nature of the included studies.

Influence of Minimally Invasive Access Cavity Designs on the Fracture Resistance of Endodontically Treated Mandibular Molars Subjected to Thermocycling and Dynamic Loading.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and restored permanent mandibular molars with minimally invasive access cavities subjected to thermocycling and dynamic loading. METHODS: Forty first and second mandibular molars were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 10/group) as follows: group 1, control (intact teeth); group 2, traditional access cavity (TradAC); group 3, conservative access cavity (ConsAC); and group 4, truss access cavity (TrecAC). After endodontic treatment, teeth were restored with SDR core (Dentsply Caulk, Milford, DE) and subjected to thermocycling followed by dynamic and static loading with a multiaxial fatigue testing machine (Instron, Canton, MA). The maximum load to fracture and pattern of failure (restorable/unrestorable) were recorded. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance and the Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Fracture resistance of the samples in the control group were higher than those in the experimental groups (P < .005). TradAC exhibited the least resistance to fracture (P < .005). There was no statistically significant difference in the fracture resistance of ConsAC and TrecAC (P = .361) Unrestorable fractures were more frequent in the TradAC group compared with all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular molars with ConsAC and TrecAC exhibited superior fracture resistance compared with TradAC. TradAC had the highest number of unrestorable fractures.