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ACCESS CAVITIESACCESS CAVITIESDr Saidah TootlaDr Saidah Tootla

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Despite advances there is always a chance of error in endodontic therapy, and diligence in the involved procedures is necessary.

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it is important that the access preparation be precise

Entering a tooth without an adequate radiograph is a “fool’s errand.”

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Preoperative radiographs are essential because they tell us where pulp chambers are located in relationship to coronal surfaces, and at what angles canals enter pulp chambers

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Gaining access to root canals, Gaining access to root canals, wherein the root canal instruments wherein the root canal instruments can be slipped easily into the canals can be slipped easily into the canals to reach the apical portion, is the to reach the apical portion, is the most important starting point of the most important starting point of the root canal treatment. Before you lift root canal treatment. Before you lift that hand piece to start access cavity that hand piece to start access cavity preparation, stop and think about the preparation, stop and think about the following three points:following three points:

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Have you refreshed the knowledge of the Have you refreshed the knowledge of the morphology and anatomy of the tooth you morphology and anatomy of the tooth you are going to treat?are going to treat?

Have you taken a good look at the tooth in Have you taken a good look at the tooth in the oral cavity? Its shape, size, tilt and the oral cavity? Its shape, size, tilt and morphology need careful consideration.morphology need careful consideration.

Have you spent sufficient time studying Have you spent sufficient time studying the radiograph?the radiograph?

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When the access preparation is cut too small, it is often impossible to find all the canals in the tooth.

Even if all the canals are located, it sets the stage for negotiation difficulties, file breakage, and unnecessary frustration during obturation procedures (Figure 1).

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Conversely, access cavities that are cut too big are a betrayal of the clinician’s first admonishment to do no harm, increasing the short-term possibility of perforation and the long-term probability of tooth and root fracture.

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CHOOSE SAFE, EFFECTIVE BURS

choosing the wrong bur can presage a poor access result

burs that are too large will inevitably increase the size of the final cavity preparation as well as significantly increase the potential for tooth perforation

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#2 round is ideal for anterior and premolar access

a #4 is optimal for molar access

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As soon as the author drops into the chamber, the round bur has accomplished its purpose and is replaced with a tapered diamond bur.

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In anterior and premolar teeth, the convenience form is afforded by extending the preparation from buccal to lingual; the conservation form is accomplished by preserving tooth structure in the mesial to distal dimension

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Anterior - TriangularAnterior - Triangular

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Canines - ovoidCanines - ovoid

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Premolar - RoundPremolar - Round

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In posterior teeth, the line-angle extensions are cut to the working cusps and stop 1 mm to 2 mm short of the idling cusps.

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In maxillary premolars and molars, the line angle extensions are taken to the palatal cusps (working) and are short of the buccal cusps (idling)

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Molar - RhomboidMolar - Rhomboid

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Conversely, in mandibular premolars and molars the line angle extensions are taken to the buccal and are short of the lingual cusps

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Straight-line accessStraight-line access Success in modern endodontic Success in modern endodontic

treatment may be dependent upon a treatment may be dependent upon a well-designed access cavity to permit well-designed access cavity to permit straight-line access to all the main straight-line access to all the main root canals root canals

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Flexural stress will be increased if the instrument must negotiate past Flexural stress will be increased if the instrument must negotiate past an overhang; arrow A indicates overhang preventing continuous an overhang; arrow A indicates overhang preventing continuous

straight line access; arrow B indicates point of greatest curvature on straight line access; arrow B indicates point of greatest curvature on

outside wall of canaloutside wall of canal. .

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Showing a canal opened to the apex to a No. 20 reamer or file; arrow Showing a canal opened to the apex to a No. 20 reamer or file; arrow indicates the thickest, most engaged part of NiTi, most prone to indicates the thickest, most engaged part of NiTi, most prone to

fracturefracture

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Questions???Questions???