An In Vitro Comparison of Propex II Apex Locator to Standard Radiographic Method.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of radiography in assessing working length to Propex II apex locator.


METHODS
Thirty single canal extracted human teeth with patent apical foramen were selected. Access cavities were prepared. Anatomic length (AL) was determined by inserting a K-file into the root canal until the file tip was just visible at the most coronal aspect of the apical foramen; subsequently 0.5 mm was deducted from this measured length. Working length by radiographic method (RL) was determined using Ingle's method. Propex II apex locator was used to determine the electronic working length (EL). From these calculated lengths, AL was deducted to obtain D-value. D-value in the range of +/-0.5 mm was considered to be acceptable.


RESULTS
The percentage accuracy of RL and Propex II apex locator was 76.6% and 86.6%, respectively. Paired t-test revealed significant difference between the RL and Propex II apex locator (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Under these in vitro conditions, Propex II apex locator has determined working length more accurately than radiographic method.
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Penang International Dental College, Malaysia.
Kalyan Vinayak
KV
Chakravarthy Pishipati
Apex Locator; Endodontics; Periapical Radiographly; Working Length