Summary
The aim of this study was to compare the area of tooth structure removed during two different endodontic access techniques in lower incisors. Thirty-two extracted lower incisors were weighed individually on a precision scale. After initial digital radiographs were taken from buccal and proximal, the teeth were coded and randomly assigned to two different groups: conventional access and incisal access. Once this stage was completed, each tooth was weighed again and 2 postoperative radiographs was taken again, buccal and proximal. Using an image processing software and digital subtraction technique, 2 independent and calibrated evaluators measured difference in tooth structure after access procedures. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect: intraclass correlation coefficient equal to 0,94 and 0,98 for proximal and buccal incidences, respectively. The Mann-Whitney test found statistically significant differences between the types of accesses in terms of weight difference (p = 0.0073) and area VL (p = 0.0023). Additionally, a statistically significant difference between the types of access in the MD area (Welch’s t test, p <0.005) was observed. The difference in weight was less for incisal access than for conventional access with a statistically significant difference, in terms of MD and VL area, incisal access and areas of smaller size than conventional access.
KEY WORDS: endodontics, root canal therapy, subtraction technique.
How to cite this article
IBARRA-BENÍTEZ, M. B.; CABALLERO-CONTRERA, A. E.; PÁEZ-REYES, L. F.; FRETES, V. R. & ADORNO, C. G. Digital subtraction radiography of dental hard tissue removed during endodontic access in mandibular incisors. Int. J. Odontostomat., 15(3):653-659, 2021.
