Prof. Dr. Ayşe Diljin KEÇECİ

DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS THE ROOT CANAL SYSTEM

Non-surgical root canal treatment is a crucial treatment modality for preserving the natural dentition. Studies reported that the endodontically-treated teeth (ETT) have similar survival rates to the implant-supported crowns, while the survival of ETT reported superior to the fixed dental prostheses.

The access cavity is one of the key steps towards successful non-surgical root canal treatment. An adequately prepared access cavity improves the performance of following steps of this treatment, including the detection of the canal orifices, chemomechanical debridement, obturation of the root canals.

One of the requirements of a traditional endodontic access cavity (TEC) is to allow for a straight-line introduction of the endodontic instruments into the canals without interference. removing the entire roof of the pulp chamber. An excessive loss of sound tooth structure may cause a significant decrease in the fracture resistance and increased cuspal flexure of endodontically treated teeth under functional loading.y elderly population.

In the last decade, several access cavity designs alternative to TEC with minimal removal of tooth tissue have been described. Minimally invasive endodontic access cavities (MIECs) have been described as openings to gain access to the root canal system, smaller than the traditional cavities targeting the preservation of the sound tooth structure. Different types of them are called (i) contracted access, (ii) "ninja" access, and (iii) "truss" access. Advocates of these approaches believe that MIEC would help maintain the long-term survival of the ETT trough preventing tooth fracture. Proper training and armamentarium such as Dental Operating Microscope and heat-treated NiTi instruments and thermoplastic obturation techniques may be prerequisites of clinical application.

The MIECs are still discussed in terms of risks of some issues such as chemomechanical debridement, obturation quality and procedural errors. The studies investigating the benefits and drawbacks of the different ways to access the root canals will be reviewed and discussed in this lecture.

Prof. Dr. Ayse Diljin KEÇECİ was born in Ankara, Turkey. She completed her secondary education in İzmir Bornova Anatolian High School in 1986, and her dental education at Ege University Faculty of Dentistry in 1991. In the Ph.D program, she studied in Ege University Department of Restorative Dentistry between the years 1992-1997 and she studied for her thesis titled “ Comparison of three manual preparation techniques of curved root canals using intraoral digital radiography “ in the JW Goethe University, Department of Restorative Treatment, in Germany as a DAAD scholar between 1994-

In 1998, she began to work in Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Dentistry in Isparta, as the head of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and the first lecturer. In 2006, she spearheaded the establishment of the Department of Endodontics and studied until 2022 in the same university.

In 2004, she studied in Germany with another DAAD scholar. As observer, she visited dental Dental Schools in Netherlands in 2011 and United States in 2013.

She started working in İzmirTinaztepe University Faculty of Dentistry as the chair of Department of Endodontics in March 2022, where she took part as one of the cofounders of the Dental Faculty.

Dr. Keçeci has a textbook and chapters in endodology books, more than 70 peer reviewed articles in national and international journals related to endodontic microbiology and disinfection, microlekage, root canal instruments, postendodontic restorations, dental trauma and prevention in athletes, dental fluorosis etc.. She has many lectures and presentations in various key congresses and meetings.

She is an active member of ESE (European Society of Endodontology), Turkish Endodontic Society (TED) and Turkish Dental Association (TDB).