Sleeve material, height, and drill surface changes in guided endodontics: Vicker’s hardness and scanning electron microscope evaluation (A pilot study)

Sleeve hardness was primarily determined by the material type, with sleeve height having no significant effect. Zirconia guide sleeves were harder than CoCr, Ti, and resin, and may also offer greater wear resistance and durability for guided endodontic template sleeves. All tested materials maintained their hardness after simulated guided access drilling. Guided minimally invasive endodontic access drill wear was considerable with static sleeves. The majority of the drills experienced thermal damage and were classified as Grade 2 surface damage. Drill abrasion was notably increased when using resin, zirconia, and cobalt-chromium (CoCr) sleeves, attributed to their greater hardness, wear resistance, and sleeve height. While resin sleeves may help reduce wear during minimally invasive guided endodontics, the absence of an effective root canal irrigation system limits cooling efficiency. Clinicians must be aware that more rigid guides and sleeve systems may demand additional measures, such as optimized irrigation or intermittent drilling, to avoid thermal and mechanical damage. Proper selection of guide sleeves and implementation of effective cooling mechanisms are essential to the success of guided endodontic procedures.