title: An in vitro comparison of root canal length determination by DentaPort ZX and iPex apex locators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  THE AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY IS TO EVALUATE AND TO COMPARE THE ACCURACY OF TWO ELECTRONIC APEX LOCATORS (EALS): DentaPort ZX and iPex, at a position 0.5 mm short of the apical foramen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty single-rooted, mandibular premolar teeth were selected. Standard access cavities were prepared and the actual length (AL) was calculated. The samples were then embedded in alginate and the electronic measurements were determined and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained showed that in determining the root canal length with a tolerance level of ±0.5 mm, i.e., AL ± 0.5 mm, DentaPort ZX was accurate in 93.3% of the samples and iPex was accurate in 90% of the samples at a position 0.5 mm short of the apical foramen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strong correlation was seen between the two electronic methods and AL and also in between the two EALs, showing the possibility of their use to measure the root canal length. No statistically significant difference was found between both the apex locators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: Consultant Endodontist, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rupali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chadha
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, ITS Dental College, Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pragya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Komal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puri
keywords: Actual length; DentaPort ZX; apex locator; iPex