Comparative Assessment of Fracture Resistance of Conservative and Conventional Access Cavity Preparation in Primary Molars: An In Vitro Study

tooth structure. 11This modified design aims to enhance fracture resistance in endodontically treated teeth by preserving the pericervical dentin by partially removing the roof of the pulp chamber. 12ome research illustrates that ConAC enhances fracture resistance, potentially eliminating the requirement for complex restorations. 13However, this design might increase the likelihood of iatrogenic errors due to reduced visibility, resulting in inadequate IntroductIonDental caries remains a highly prevalent condition worldwide, impacting around 520 million children globally. 1It can eventually spread through the dentin, resulting in pulpitis, pulp infection, and necrosis if left untreated. 2Malocclusion and loss of space in the permanent dentition may also occur as a consequence of early tooth loss caused by caries. 3To avoid such problems, endodontic therapy can be performed to preserve the tooth until it exfoliates naturally. 4However, endodontic therapy in primary molars continues to pose a special challenge to dentists due to the intricate morphology of the root canals. 5Pulpectomy-treated primary molars seem to have a success rate of 77.7%. 6Proper access cavity preparation, biomechanical preparation, and root canal obturation are necessary for the outcome of endodontic treatment. 7Among these steps, access cavity preparation is considered a critical step in endodontic therapy. 8raditionally, conventional access cavity (CAC) preparation is the standard method in pediatric endodontics to establish direct access to the canals for detailed instrumentation.However, this approach removes a significant amount of dentin, weakening the tooth as well as elevating the risk of fractures. 9As per this concern, a modified design for the endodontic access cavity, known as the conservative access cavity (ConAC), was advocated by Clark and Khademi in 2010. 10The long-term resistance to fracture of a tooth is determined by the amount of remaining 1-