Accuracy of Robot-Guided Access Cavity Preparation in Managing Calcified Canals: An In Vitro Study.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of guided access cavity preparation in calcified canals using a robotic system, compared to static and dynamic guided methods.

Methodology: Three 3D-printed mandibular models presenting with pulp canal obliteration were allocated into three groups for robot, static and dynamic-guided access cavity preparations. The primary outcomes measured were the coronal deviation, apical deviation and angular deviation between the planned and actual paths of access cavity preparation. Additionally, all access cavities were confirmed to determine whether the canal was located. The data were analysed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's post hoc test and multilevel linear regression models. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: All canals (n = 12) in the robot-guided and static-guided groups were located. In the dynamic guided group, a total of 10 out of 12 canals were found, with 2 resulting in root perforations. The accuracy of access cavity preparation using a robotic system showed no significant difference compared to the static-guided group (p > 0.05). However, the apical and angular deviation results were significantly lower in the robot-guided group than the dynamic-guided group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The robotic system exhibited comparable accuracy to the static guide, whereas it significantly outperformed dynamic navigation in terms of guided access cavity preparation for calcified root canals. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.