MINIMALLY INVASIVE ENDODONTIC ACCESS CAVITIES

Whereas traditional access cavities are portrayed as a dentist-conveniencefocused treatment, minimal access cavity preparation has been advocated as a patientcentered clinical strategy. The argument seems convincing at first glance because the old method is based on standardised shapes to provide direct access to all canal orifices, whereas dentine conservation through minimal cavities is intended to be achieved according to the clinical situations of teeth. The main justification for the socalled patient-centered approach is that the minimally invasive concept typically promotes the significance of leaving as much of the pulp chamber roof intact as possible. This is supported by the hypothesis that this is relevant to maintaining the overall resistance strength of teeth and, consequently, their long-term survival.