Guided Endodontics

Guided Endodontics: Advances, Necessity, and Clinical WorkflowIntroductionRoot canal therapy (RCT) aims to preserve healthy periradicular tissues by eradicating infection through thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal system. Calcified canals, often the result of trauma, aging, or chronic irritation, pose significant diagnostic and clinical challenges. Pulp canal obliteration (PCO) can occur in 15-40% of post-traumatic cases, rendering canals radiographically invisible and increasing the risk of procedural errors such as perforation, excessive dentin removal, and missed canals.Conventional endodontic techniques-relying on 2D radiographs and operator experience-are often inadequate in these cases. Recent advances in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), computer-assisted planning, and three-dimensional (3D) printing have enabled the evolution of Guided Endodontics (GE), a minimally invasive, highly accurate approach inspired by guided surgical navigation in neurosurgery.GE incorporates digital imaging, virtual planning, and either static or dynamic guidance:Static.