GUIDED ENDODONTICS: CLINICAL APPLICABILITY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO CONTEMPORARY DENTISTRY

Abstract

Guided endodontics represents a significant innovation in contemporary dentistry by integrating digital resources such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanning, and 3D printing for the planning and execution of endodontic access. This minimally invasive technique aims to overcome the limitations of conventional methods, particularly in cases of obliterated, calcified, atypical canals, or complex retreatments. This study, conducted through a literature review covering the period from 2015 to 2025, analyzed national and international research addressing the clinical applicability of guided endodontics. The results indicate that the technique offers relevant advantages, such as greater predictability, precision in access, reduced failures, and preservation of dental structure. Moreover, it contributes to decreasing the risk of perforations, favoring prognosis and tooth longevity. Recent Brazilian studies highlight the growing adoption of the technique among professionals, confirming its feasibility in the national clinical context. Despite these benefits, the literature emphasizes limitations such as the high cost of digital equipment, the need for technological infrastructure, and the scarcity of large-scale randomized clinical trials. It is concluded that guided endodontics represents both a technological and clinical advancement of great relevance for dental science and professional practice, by enabling safer, more conservative, and more effective procedures, consolidating itself as a promising trend for the future of endodontics.