Accuracy of three electronic apex locators compared with digital radiography: An ex-vivo study.

摘要

Introduction: This study compared (1) the accuracy ofudthree different electronic apex locators (EALs) in detectingudthe apical foramen ex vivo under clinical conditions;ud(2) the accuracy of digital radiography and EALs in determiningudthe working length (WL) with visible controludunder a microscope; and (3) the precision of #10, #15,udand #20 K-files in electronic measurements. Methods:udThe length of 101 extracted human teeth was measuredudwith three different EALs (Endex [Osada Electric Co,udTokyo, Japan], ProPex II [Dentsply-Maillefer, Ballaigues,udSwitzerland], and Root ZX [J. Morita Co, Tustin, CA]),udwith radio videography (RVG) and compared with theudactual length. An endodontic training kit (Pro-Train; SimitudDental, Mantova, Italy) was used during the experimentaludprocedures. Results: Statistical analysis showed thatudEndex and ProPex II were more accurate than Root ZXudin determining the WL. The paired sample t test showedudno statistically significant difference between the accuracyudof the two radiographic planes examined. Theudt test showed no significant difference between the threeuddifferent K-file sizes measurements. Conclusions: Endexudand ProPex II were more accurate than Root ZX in determiningudthe actual WL. Instrument sizes of hand files didudnot affect the accuracy of EALs. EALs showed to beudmore accurate in determining the WL than RVG. (J Endodud2010;36:2003–2007)