Access Opening Procedures for all Teeth and Errors

Conventional radiographs provide only a two-dimensional image of pulp anatomy. It is the third dimension that you must mentally visualise, as a supplement to two-dimensional thinking, if you have to accurately clean, shape, obturate, and fill the total pulp space. The anatomy of the canals dictates modifications of the cavity preparation. If, for example, a fourth canal is found or suspected in a molar tooth, the preparation outline will have to be expanded to allow for easy access into the accessory canal. Endodontic preparations deal with both coronal and radicular access, each of which is achieved separately but ultimately flow together into a single preparation. Before we start the access cavity preparations for individual teeth, it is important for you to be familiar with the configurations of the root canals.

As you read further in this unit, you will learn the coronal endodontic preparation for various teeth and also the common errors that are likely to occur while preparing the access cavity.

Once again it is emphasized that before starting the endodontic cavity preparation for a particular tooth, you should:

1) Refresh the knowledge of the morphology and anatomy of the tooth you are going to treat.

2) Have a good look at the tooth in the oral cavity – its shape, size, tilt and morphology need careful consideration.

3) Spend sufficient time studying the radiograph.