Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39321254›Full record

ArticleDento maxillo facial radiology2025

The impact of cone beam CT on outcomes associated with endodontic access cavity preparation: a controlled human analogue study using 3D-printed first maxillary molars.

Margarete B McGuigan, Henry F Duncan, Gabriel Krastl, Julia Ludwig, Bahman Honari, Keith Horner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dento maxillo facial radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Margarete B McGuiganDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin, D02 F859, Ireland.ORCID 0009-0002-4136-054X
Henry F DuncanDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin, D02 F859, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-8690-2379
Gabriel KrastlWürzburg Dental Hospital, Würzburg, Germany Pleicherwall 2 , Würzburg, 97070, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9402-8121
Julia LudwigWürzburg Dental Hospital, Würzburg, Germany Pleicherwall 2 , Würzburg, 97070, Germany.
Bahman HonariDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin, D02 F859, Ireland.
Keith HornerDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Lincoln Place, Dublin, D02 F859, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0001-6064-4463

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo identify if supplemental preoperative cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging could improve outcomes related to endodontic access cavity preparation, using 3D-printed maxillary first molars (M1Ms) in a rigorously simulated, controlled human analogue study.

methodsEighteen operators with 3 experience-levels took part in 2 simulated clinical sessions, 1 with and 1 without the availability of CBCT imaging, in a randomized order and with an intervening 8-week washout period. Operators attempted the location of all 4 root canals in each of 3 custom-made M1Ms (2 non-complex and 1 complex mesiobuccal [MB] canal anatomy). The primary outcome was tooth volume removed. Secondary outcomes were linear cavity dimensions, canals located, and procedural time. Operator confidence and "helpfulness" of available imaging were recorded. Statistical analysis of data included: paired t-tests, Fisher's exact test, linear mixed-effect modelling, and Mann-Whitney U test, with an alpha level of .05 for all.

resultsWhen supplemental preoperative CBCT was available, there were significant reductions in volume of the access cavity and procedural times, with significantly increased MB2 canal location, but only for teeth with non-complex anatomies and for more experienced operators. Linear mixed-effect modelling identified image type and operator experience as significant predictors of tooth volume removed and procedural time. There was significantly lower confidence in canal location and perceived "helpfulness" (all Experience Groups) when conventional imaging only was used compared with when CBCT was available.

conclusionsSupplemental preoperative CBCT had several beneficial impacts on access cavity preparation, although this only applied to teeth with non-complex anatomy and for more experienced operators.

Indexed as

Cone-Beam Computed TomographyMaxillaMolarPrinting, Three-DimensionalDental Cavity PreparationDental Pulp CavityHumansRoot Canal Preparation3D printingcone beam CTendodonticsoperator experienceoutcome measures

Identifiers

PMID39321254
PMCPMC11664103

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.