Does cervical root canal preparation influence the quality of endodontic treatment? A systematic review

Abstract

Cervical preparation aims to remove dentin prominences located in the cervical region of the root canal. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the importance of this operative maneuver in endodontic treatment. The objective of this systematic review was to answer the question: Does cervical root canal preparation influence the quality of endodontic treatment? Material and methods: Electronic databases (Medline/PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus, Embase, Scientific Electronic Library Online – SciELO, and Central Register of Controlled Trials – Central) were searched until July 2023, without language or year restriction. Grey literature was also searched through Google scholar and OpenGrey repository. Only in vitro studies were included that evaluated the influence of cervical preparation on endodontic treatment. Relevant results were summarized and evaluated. The risk of bias was also assessed in the studies. Results: Initial screening of databases resulted in 235 studies, of which 80 were excluded for being duplicates. Of 155 eligible papers, twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for full-text reading. Most of studies included in this review were qualified with low risk of bias. Five studies showed moderate risk. Conclusion: Based on the analyzed studies, it is possible to conclude that performing the cervical preparation facilitates the execution of the steps of odontometry and mechanical chemical preparation in clinical practice.