Tooth substance loss after incisal endodontic access and novel single-tooth template-guided endodontic access in three-dimensional printed resin incisors with simulated pulp canal calcification: A comparative in vitro study.

CONTEXT BACKGROUND: Guided endodontics has various applications, one of which is for calcified canal negotiation. Recently, a new single-tooth template has been fabricated to overcome the drawbacks of bulky guides, which are difficult to use with rubber dam isolation.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the novel single-tooth template for negotiation of pulp canal calcification (PCC) in three-dimensional (3D)-printed resin incisors by comparing substance loss and time taken between incisal endodontic access (IEA) and single-tooth template-guided endodontic access (SGEA).

METHODS: Forty-two resin incisor teeth having patent canal in the apical third were used ( N = 21/group). They were subcategorized based on operator's experience into senior endodontist (SE), postgraduate (PG), and undergraduate (UG) ( n = 7/operator). Canals were negotiated conventionally for IEA and using the single-tooth template for SGEA. Substance loss was calculated from the volume difference between pre- and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography scans. The time taken was also recorded.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t -test and one-way analysis of variance test.

RESULTS: Canals were successfully negotiated in 100% and 95% of teeth in the SGEA and IEA groups, respectively. Overall substance loss and time taken were significantly lesser for SGEA for all operators ( P < 0.001). In the IEA group, post hoc test showed statistical significance between SE and UG for substance loss ( P < 0.05) and SE-UG and PG-UG for time taken ( P < 0.05). No significant difference among operators was noted for both parameters in SGEA.

CONCLUSIONS: SGEA resulted in significantly lesser substance loss and time taken for canal negotiation in 3D-printed resin incisors with simulated PCC. This was independent of the experience levels of the operator.