Access cavity preparation is the coronal phase of endodontic treatment, creating a pathway from the crown of the tooth to the pulp chamber and root canal orifices. Good access is the foundation of the entire procedure: no amount of shaping skill compensates for a poorly designed or missed access.
This article is intentionally tooth-agnostic. Tooth-specific access protocols live as sub-pages under this one — anyone can add a new tooth-specific page (see How to add a sub-page). Examples that contributors are welcome to add:
articles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/upper-first-molararticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/upper-second-molararticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/lower-first-molararticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/upper-premolarsarticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/lower-incisorsarticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/calcified-casesarticles/procedures/access-cavity-preparation/conservative-vs-traditionalTraditional "triangular" (anterior) and "trapezoidal" (posterior) outlines emphasized full removal of the pulp-chamber roof. Modern conservative or "ninja" access designs preserve cervical dentine and claim fracture-resistance benefits. Evidence is mixed: adequate disinfection and straight-line access remain the priority. Overly conservative designs risk missed anatomy (MB2 in upper first molars, second canals in mandibular premolars).