Accuracy of a fourth generation apex locator-an in vitro evaluation

• Main Authors: Dalia Abdullah, Mariam Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universitas Airlangga 2007-09-01
• Series: Dental Journal: Majalah Kedokteran Gigi
• Subjects: electronic apex locator; elements; root ZX; alginate model
• Online Access: http://e-journal.unair.ac.id/index.php/MKG/article/view/1050
• ISSN: 1978-3728; 2442-9740

<span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>The new fourth generation electronic apex locator (EAL), Elements (SybronEndo, USA) has been introduced recently in the market. </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>This study aims to investigate the accuracy of this EAL and to compare the result with a well-known apex locator, Root ZX and the </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>radiographic technique using an in vitro model. Thirty anterior teeth with straight canals stored in 10% formalin were used. Access </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>cavities were prepared followed by coronal flaring of the canals. Water was used as an irrigant. After the actual lengths (AL) were </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>measured, the teeth were then embedded in an alginate model. Periapical radiograph of each tooth was taken using a digital sensor </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>and the radiographic lengths (RL) were measured 0.5 mm short of the radiographic apex. Electronic tooth length measurements (EL) </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>were carried out using both EAL. Canals were then irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl and EL was taken again. Results showed that both EALs </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>were highly accurate to within + 0.5 mm of the apical foramen, with mean differences between the AL and EL of Elements 0.23mm </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>(SE = 0.04) and Root ZX was 0.31mm (SE = 0.05). RL was significantly less accurate compared to the readings from both EAL. No </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>significant difference was found in the reading between both apex locators when measurements were taken in NaOCl solution. Both </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>Elements and Propex proved to be as reliable as Root ZX. Presence of sodium hypochlorite solution did not affect the accuracy of the </em><span style="font-family: Tribune-Italic; font-size: 9pt; color: #231f20; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal;"><em>measurements.</em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" /></span>