title: An in vivo evaluation of different methods of working length determination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this in vivo study was to compare the ability of digital tactile, digital radiographic and electronic methods to determine reliability in locating the apical constriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Informed consent was obtained from patients scheduled for orthodontic extraction. The teeth were anesthetized, isolated and accessed. The canals were negotiated, pulp chamber and canals were irrigated and pulp was extirpated. The working length was then evaluated for each canal by digital tactile sensation, an electronic apex locator (The Root ZX) and digital radiography. The readings were then compared with post-extraction working length measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage accuracy indicated that EAL method (Root ZX) shows maximum accuracy, i.e. 99.85% and digital tactile and digital radiographic method (DDR) showed 98.20 and 97.90% accuracy respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hence, it can be concluded that the EAL method (Root ZX) produced most reliable results for determining the accurate working length.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India, e-mail: drjyoti8@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandlik
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawar
authors.forename: Paras
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shoaib Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shaik
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009811:Odontometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology