Minimally Invasive Approaches in Endodontic Practice 2021

Minimally invasive dentistry is one of the most important contemporary topics in the dental field. Rapid advancements in technologies, materials, and techniques have encouraged all dental disciplines to prioritize minimal intervention while preserving healthy natural structures as much as possible.

The philosophy follows the principle “less is more,” rooted in minimalism and simplicity. However, simplicity should not be mistaken for simplistic treatment. Minimally invasive dentistry does not promote superficial or reduced-quality procedures; rather, it aims to provide optimal, precise, and conservative care across all dental specialties.

Minimally invasive dentistry represents a paradigm shift—a fundamental change in traditional scientific thinking and clinical practice. As new phenomena challenge long-standing dogmas, clinicians are encouraged to abandon outdated concepts and adopt evidence-based innovations.

Endodontics has been particularly receptive to this philosophy. Over the past two decades, the field has undergone continuous evolution through the rapid adoption of new technologies, materials, instruments, and clinical concepts. Minimally invasive endodontics exemplifies how older paradigms have been replaced by modern approaches aligned with current scientific understanding.

The scientific community now carries the responsibility to validate these new concepts and establish evidence-based protocols for clinical practice. The goal of the book referenced in the text is to offer a balanced, scientifically supported overview of minimally invasive approaches in endodontics.

A central principle emphasized by the author is the primacy of anatomy. Every endodontic procedure must be guided by anatomical knowledge to achieve predictable and long-lasting results. Therefore, the term “minimally invasive” is redefined as “anatomically guided”, leading the author to propose the concept of “Anatomically Invasive Endodontics.”