(PR41) Accuracy of Four Electronic Apex Locators in Vitro

Abstract:

Objectives: This study compared the performance in vitro of four different brands of electronic apex locator devices to determine the root canal length in mandibular incisors.

Methods: Forty human mandibular incisors extracted for reasons not related to this study were selected. Teeth were evaluated under an operating microscope and by means of CBCT for anatomical standardization. Endodontic access was performed using round burs. The canals' actual length was measured by inserting a size 10 manual file up to the apical foramen (AF) under magnification. The teeth were fixed to an acrylic platform with an auto-polymerizing acrylic resin and embedded in saline. A mounting model was used to perform the electronic measurements using a digital calliper attached to a size 10 manual file. The devices AirPex (Eighteeth, China), ACE (Medidenta, NV), and CanalPro (Coltene, OH), and Root ZX mini (Morita, Japan) were used in random order. The means of the absolute values and the percentages of distribution of the tested measurement methods were compared. Data were statistically analyzed with the significance set at 5%.

Results: No difference was found regarding the mean measurements recorded by the four different devices (ANOVA p>.05). No difference in the percentage of acceptable measurements (within the ± 0.5 mm) was found among the devices (chi-square and Z test, p>.05).

Conclusion: All tested devices were considered adequate in measuring the root canal length of mandibular incisors in vitro.