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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Review Article
Precision beyond perception: the future of mixed reality-guided endodontics
Shrija M, Vinay Kumar Reddy T, Vijay Venkatesh K, Shyam B Seetha Kunhikannan
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 14-21
Received on: 17/08/2026
Revised on: 21/09/2026
Accepted on: 14/10/2026
Published on: 01/11/2026
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Shrija M, Vinay Kumar Reddy T, Vijay Venkatesh K, Shyam B Seetha Kunhikannan( 2026).
Precision beyond perception: the future of mixed reality-guided endodontics
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 6), 14-21.
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Abstract
Finding and treating the root canal system is a spatial task that is performed under severe visual constraints and much of the recent innovation in endodontics has been directed squarely at that problem. This narrative review describes the development of that innovation, beginning with the static, 3D-printed surgical templates that defined “guided endodontics” in 2016, through dynamic, camera-tracked navigation systems, to the current generation of augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) platforms that overlay CT- or CBCT-derived canal anatomy directly on the clinician’s view of the tooth with head-mounted displays. Guided and immersive technologies improve the precision of access cavity preparation and canal location relative to freehand technique, especially in calcified or atypical teeth and seem to reduce treatment-planning time by keeping 3D anatomical information within the operator’s direct line of sight, as suggested by a pattern across >30 in vitro, ex vivo, and narrative or systematic sources. This review also finds that the evidence base for MR in particular is dominated by proof-of-concept and laboratory work; registration accuracy, head-mounted display comfort and field of view, cost, and the steep learning curve associated with spatial computing are recurring and largely unresolved barriers. The review ends with an identification of the clinical trials and standardised outcome measures that will be needed before mixed reality can become a routine chairside adjunct rather than an active research frontier.
Keywords
Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality, Guided Endodontics, Root canal therapy, Dynamic navigation.
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© The Author(s) 2026. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
