title: In vitro comparison of working length determination using three different electronic apex locators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the apex-locating functions of DentaPort ZX, Raypex 5 and Endo Master electronic apex locators (EALs) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty extracted human single-rooted teeth with mature apices were used for the study. The real working length (RWL) was established by subtracting 0.5 mm from the actual root canal length. All teeth were mounted in an alginate model that was especially developed to test the EALs and the teeth were then measured with each EAL. The results were compared with the corresponding RWL, which was subtracted from the electronically determined distance. Data were analyzed using a paired-samples t-test, a Chi-square test and a repeated measure analysis of variance evaluation at the 0.05 level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis showed that no significant difference was found among all EALs (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The accuracy of the EALs was evaluated and all of the devices showed an acceptable determination of electronic working length between the ranges of ±0.5 mm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuştarci
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altunbaş
keywords: DentaPort ZX; Endo Master; Raypex 5; electronic apex locator; working length