Conservative access and its implications in endodontic treatment

Abstract

Objective: Describe the implications caused in endodontic treatment by conservative endodontic accesses in relation to traditional endodontic accesses. Methods: A search was performed in the PubMED databases, using the terms “Root canal treatment”, “Dental Pulp Cavity” and “Conservative Treatment”. Articles from the last ten years in English from the journals “Journal of Endodontics” and “International Endodontic Journal” were prioritized. Results: Despite the pursuit of conservative Endodontics to preserve healthy structures, unwanted results may occur in the stages subsequent to endodontic access, such as difficulty in accessing the pulp chamber, limitations in visualization, instrumentation, obturation and cleaning of root canals, and also resistance to fracture without significant difference compared to traditional access. Final considerations: Although conservative endodontic access is a promising approach, it is important to highlight that it may have limitations, since there is no evidence of increased fracture resistance in teeth with conservative accesses when compared to traditional accesses, as well as other relevant disadvantages during treatment, therefore there is no reason to opt for it, traditional access being preferable.