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Open research questions in Endodontics and Root Canal Treatments

743 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 10,212 Endodontics and Root Canal Treatments papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • further studies are needed to confirm the findings, - investigation of the long-term effects of the therapies, - research on the application of an early adjunct regimen compliant with EFP personalized therapy

    Subgingival air polishing (glycine powder) versus minocycline hydrochloride: efficacy in residual periodontal pockets following endoscope-assisted scaling and root planing · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of clinical evidence for the application of adjunctive therapies after endoscope-assisted scaling and root planing. There is a need to compare the efficacy of different adjuncts in treating residual periodontal pockets.

    Subgingival air polishing (glycine powder) versus minocycline hydrochloride: efficacy in residual periodontal pockets following endoscope-assisted scaling and root planing · 2026 · DOI

  • The study did not report on the long-term effects of the file systems, - The network meta-analysis was limited by the availability of direct comparisons, - The study did not account for potential confounding variables, - The study relied on published data and may be subject to publication bias

    Comparative effectiveness of 31 endodontic file systems on postoperative pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The effectiveness of different endodontic file systems on postoperative pain is unclear. There is a need to synthesize the evidence on the comparative effectiveness of different file systems. The study aims to address this research gap.

    Comparative effectiveness of 31 endodontic file systems on postoperative pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • the study used bovine mandibular incisors instead of human teeth, - the study was an in vitro experiment, - the sample size was limited to 64 specimens

    Effect of zirconia tube reinforcement on fracture resistance and microleakage of endodontically treated premolars with flared root canals under cyclic loading · 2026 · DOI

  • further clinical and long-term studies are required to confirm these findings, - studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse populations are needed, - research on the long-term mechanical performance of zirconia tubes in clinical conditions is necessary

    Effect of zirconia tube reinforcement on fracture resistance and microleakage of endodontically treated premolars with flared root canals under cyclic loading · 2026 · DOI

  • The influence of working length determination method on postoperative pain is not well understood. There is a need to compare postoperative pain following root canal treatment using different working length determination methods.

    Evaluation of postoperative pain associated with different working length determination methods: a randomised clinical study · 2026 · DOI

  • Clinical Relevance Mandibular premolars are reported to have more than one canal, and the effect of different access cavities has not been evaluated in canal detection of these teeth.

    Evaluating the Influence of Access Cavity Design to Detect Additional Canals of Mandibular Premolars: An In Vitro Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on standardizing experimental methodologies to allow meaningful comparison across studies, identifying optimal concentrations of additives to balance material performance, and conducting well-designed in vivo and clinical studies to validate these findings and support their translation into clinical practice.

    Modifications of Biodentine and Their Influence on Endodontic Properties: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Panoramic radiographs were analyzed and PS were identified as well‐ or poorly defined radiopaque opacities located within the pulp chamber of the maxillary and mandibular first and second permanent molars.

    Association of Pulp Stones With Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Mineralization‐Related Genes in Orthodontically Treated Patients: A Cross‐Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Although the effects of instrument design and kinematic motion on cyclic fatigue resistance have been extensively investigated, the potential influence of endodontic motor battery indicator level on instrument performance has not yet been evaluated.

    Effect of endodontic motor battery levels on the cyclic fatigue resistance of NiTi Files: an in vitro study using the X-Smart plus motor · 2026 · DOI

  • Conclusion: Given the limitations of the present study, regarding the extension of the PA lesion in the first molar region, the bone structure of the maxilla and mandible follows a precise and delicate pattern.

    Topographic Evaluation of Inflammatory Periapical Lesions in the First Molar’s Region Using CBCT · 2025 · DOI

  • However, little is known about the PLA2 isoforms’ expression and their response to CQ in the dental pulp.

    Camphorquinone-induced phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase −2 expression and its roles in 8-isoprostane and prostaglandin E2 production of human dental pulp cells · 2025 · DOI

  • Further, in vivo studies are warranted to validate its therapeutic efficacy and biosafety.

    Development of zinc partially-stabilized cement carrying growth factor and anti-inflammatory drug for vital pulp therapy · 2025 · DOI

  • While oxygen tension is known to influence cellular physiology, its regulatory mechanisms on DPSC osteo/odontogenic differentiation remain poorly understood.

    Oxygen concentration modulates HDAC1-Mediated regulation of osteogenic signaling pathways in dental pulp cells · 2025 · DOI

  • The relative position of the root canal orifices in relation to anatomic landmarks needs to be further explored.

    The Correlation between Intraorifice Distance and the Anatomical Characteristics of the Second Mesiobuccal Canal of Maxillary Molars: A CBCT Study · 2024 · DOI

  • However, very few studies have evaluated the apical extrusion of debris generated by these systems during canal preparation at normal body temperature in laboratory conditions.

    Assessment of Debris Extrusion in Curved Canals: An In Vitro Analysis of Various Single‐File Endodontic Instrumentation Systems · 2024 · DOI

  • While the pericanalar resorption-resistant sheet (PRRS) impedes ECR progression towards the pulp, the underlying mechanisms of its protective role in human teeth remain unclear.

    Predentin's influence on clastic cell behavior in human external cervical resorption: Evidence from a case study · 2024 · DOI

  • Background/purpose: Establishing effective irrigation methods is warranted to ensure the predictability of minimally invasive root canal instrumentation.

    Smear layer removal efficacy of different irrigation techniques in conservatively instrumented root canals · 2024 · DOI

  • Although the sealing ability of intraorifice barriers has been widely compared in the literature, there have been few studies on the strengthening effect of the materials used in the study as intraorifice barriers when placed into the root canal.

    A protocol for a comparative evaluation of the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth reinforced with Cention N, resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and short fiber reinforced flowable composite as an intraorifice barrier · 2024 · DOI

  • Treatment of necrotic immature teeth is complex and highly variable. There is a lack of standardized RET protocols and a core outcome set. Substantial methodological and clinical heterogeneity limited quantitative synthesis.

    From blood to biology: evaluating platelet-rich plasma as a scaffold in regenerative endodontics — a systematic review · 2026 · DOI

  • Substantial methodological and clinical heterogeneity limited quantitative synthesis. The study had a small sample size. The follow-up period was relatively short, ranging from 6 months to 18 months.

    From blood to biology: evaluating platelet-rich plasma as a scaffold in regenerative endodontics — a systematic review · 2026 · DOI

  • The study evaluated only a limited number of sealer types (RealSeal SE, AH Plus, SafeEndo EpoxySeal, SafeEndo BioActive RCS); evaluation of additional modern sealers is needed.

    Effect of antioxidants on dentinal tubular penetration of root canal sealers in sodium hypochlorite treated root canal dentin: a systematic review · 2026 · DOI

  • The study notes that the number of event counts in each of the sparse treatment nodes was too low to rely on, and caution is needed when interpreting these results. The study also notes that the results may be limited by the variability in outcome definitions and follow-up intervals across the included studies.

    Decision-ready evidence for vital pulp therapy: a network meta-analysis of bioactive materials in mature permanent teeth · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for clinically credible, decision-ready evidence on the comparative effectiveness of bioactive materials used in vital pulp therapy. There is a gap in the current understanding of which materials perform best within each VPT modality. There is a need for further research on the effectiveness of vital pulp therapy as a first-line option for permanent teeth with pulpal compromise.

    Decision-ready evidence for vital pulp therapy: a network meta-analysis of bioactive materials in mature permanent teeth · 2026 · DOI

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743 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 10,212 Endodontics and Root Canal Treatments papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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