Saudi dentists show strong interest in guided endodontics

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 17 June 2026

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HA’IL, Saudi Arabia: Guided endodontic access (GEA), a technique that uses CBCT, intra-oral scanning, digital planning and 3D-printed guides to facilitate precise and conservative access cavity preparation, has been demonstrated to be particularly useful when canals are calcified or difficult to locate. However, despite its clinical advantages, the technique has not yet become routine, and the reasons for this are not fully understood. A new study from the University of Ha’il has examined the factors that may influence the adoption of GEA in Saudi Arabia and found that, while awareness and acceptance of the technology are high, several practical challenges continue to limit its widespread use.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate dental practitioners’ awareness and knowledge of GEA, level of training on the technique, assessment of its clinical usefulness and views on the barriers to its use. The survey revealed a generally positive perception of GEA among respondents. Most practitioners were familiar with the technology and had received some formal training. Participants widely agreed that GEA improves procedural accuracy and safety and is particularly useful in challenging endodontic cases. Many also regarded the technique as a significant advancement in endodontic practice and supported its inclusion in undergraduate and continuing education programmes.

The findings align with recent clinical evidence demonstrating the accuracy of guided endodontic techniques. In a 2025 randomised controlled trial, GEA achieved significantly lower deviations during access cavity preparation than conventional freehand approaches in teeth with pulp canal obliteration.

Despite this favourable outlook, respondents identified several obstacles to implementation. The most cited barriers were the cost of equipment and software, the additional steps required for digital planning and guide fabrication, and the need for specialised training. These findings corroborate those of previous research, and the authors noted that these concerns mirror challenges reported across other areas of digital dentistry, where awareness often outpaces routine clinical adoption.

The study also found that practitioners with greater clinical experience and higher academic qualifications tended to report higher levels of knowledge, training and willingness to adopt guided techniques. According to the authors, this may reflect greater exposure to advanced technologies through postgraduate education, professional networks and continuing professional development activities.

The study highlighted the importance of training that helps clinicians integrate digital planning into everyday endodontic workflows if GEA is to become more widely adopted. Such training may be particularly important because practitioners who are unfamiliar with these workflows may view them as complex or time-consuming without recognising that guided procedures can improve clinical efficiency. They also suggested that integrating digital workflows into dental curricula could help bridge the gap between awareness and everyday clinical use, supporting the continued evolution of minimally invasive endodontic care.

The article, titled “Knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers toward guided endodontic access among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study”, was published online on 4 June 2026 in BMC Oral Health, ahead of inclusion in an issue.