An ex vivo comparison of working length determination by 3 electronic apex locators.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy of 3 different electronic apex locators (EALs) in establishing the working length in recently extracted teeth.


METHODS
Sixty teeth (100 canals) were soaked in an alginate model and electronically measured with 3 EALs (Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5, and Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator). The real working length was calculated as 1.0 mm short of the real length of the canal. The electronic measurements were taken following the manufacturers' orientations within +/-0.05 mm and +/-1.0 mm using a #15 K-file attached to the holder, after canal irrigation with 1% NaOCl. Data were analyzed with Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank test, at a significance level of 5%.


RESULTS
Within +/-0.5 mm and +/-1.0 mm, the accuracy was 39% and 90% (Dentaport ZX), 31% and 82% (Raypex 5), and 37% and 73% (Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator), respectively, with statistically significant differences between Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator and the other EALs.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the EALs yielded an accuracy of 100%. Within the limitations of the present study. Elements Diagnostic Unit and Apex Locator proved to be less reliable than Dentaport ZX and Raypex 5 in the determination of the real working length.
Pascon
Elizeu Alvaro
EA
Calabrodental Centro Odontoiatrico, Crotone, Italy.
Marrelli
Massimo
M
Congi
Orsola
O
Ciancio
Rosetta
R
Miceli
Federica
F
Versiani
Marco Aurélio
MA
D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009811:Odontometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite