Effect of Computer-Aided Navigation Techniques on the Accuracy of Endodontic Access Cavities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

UNLABELLED

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the effect of computer-aided navigation techniques on the accuracy of endodontic access cavities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of clinical studies, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, was performed that evaluated the root canal location rate of computer-aided navigation techniques applied to endodontic access cavities. Four different databases were used to consult the literature: PubMed-Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. After discarding duplicate articles and applying inclusion criteria, 14 articles were selected for qualitative analysis and 13 for quantitative analysis.

RESULTS

the root canal location success rate started at 98.1% (CI: 95.7-100%) of the cases performed through a computer-aided navigation technique. The prediction interval ranged from 93.3% to 100%. The meta-analysis did not detect heterogeneity between the combined studies (Q-test = 17.3; = 0.185; I = 25%). No statistically significant differences were found between computer-aided static navigation techniques (success rate: 98.5%) and computer-aided dynamic navigation techniques (success rate: 94.5%) (Q test = 0.57; = 0.451), nor between in vitro studies (success rate: 96.2%) and in vivo studies (success rate: 100%) (Q test = 2.53; -value = 0.112). An odds success ratio of 13.1 (CI: 95%; 3.48, 49.1) encourages the use of computer-aided navigation techniques over conventional endodontic access cavity procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

the endodontic access cavities created using static and dynamic computer-aided navigation techniques are highly accurate in locating the root canal system.