Guided Endodontics in Contemporary Practice: An Overview of Static and Dynamic Navigation.

Guided endodontics represents a significant advancement in contemporary endodontic practice by integrating three-dimensional imaging, digital planning, and navigation technologies to enhance the precision of access cavity preparation. Management of teeth with pulp canal obliteration, severe canal calcification, or complex anatomy poses considerable challenges when using conventional freehand techniques, often resulting in excessive dentin removal and an increased risk of iatrogenic complications. Guided endodontic approaches have been developed to address these limitations by improving accuracy while preserving tooth structure.

This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles, digital workflows, and clinical applications of both static and dynamic guided endodontics. Static guided endodontics involves the acquisition of cone beam computed tomography data combined with intraoral or surface scans to enable virtual planning, followed by the fabrication of a three-dimensionally printed guide that directs bur penetration along a predetermined trajectory. Dynamic guided endodontics, in contrast, employs real-time navigation systems that continuously track the position of the bur relative to the planned pathway, offering greater intraoperative flexibility and eliminating the need for a physical guide.

The presentation will critically review current evidence related to accuracy, deviation values, clinical indications, advantages, and limitations of both techniques. Common sources of error, case selection criteria, and practical considerations for clinical implementation will also be discussed. The session aims to support evidence-based decision-making and facilitate the safe integration of guided endodontics into routine clinical practice.