title: Influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of an electronic foramen locator in posterior teeth: an in vivo study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess, in vivo, the accuracy of the NovApex® electronic foramen locator in determining working length (WL) in vital and necrotic posterior teeth. The NovApex®was used in 144 canals: 35 teeth with vital pulps (68 canals) and 42 teeth with necrotic pulps (76 canals). WL was measured with the NovApex® locator and confirmed using the radiographic method. Differences between electronic and radiographic measurements ranging between 0.0 and 0.4 millimeters were classified as acceptable; differences equal to or greater than 0.5 millimeter were considered unacceptable. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess the influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of NovApex®(a = 0.05). Regardless of pulp condition, differences between electronic and radiographic WL measurements were acceptable in 73.61% of the canals. No statistically significant differences in accuracy were observed when comparing vital and necrotic canals (p > 0.05). There were 38 unacceptable measurements. In none of these cases was the file tip located beyond the radiographic apex; in 32, it was located short of the NovApex® measurement. Pulp condition had no significant effect on the accuracy of NovApex®.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Santa Cruz do Sul University, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grazziotin-Soares
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gavini
authors.forename: Fernando Branco
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Barletta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009811:Odontometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D009929:Organ Size; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult