Accuracy of electronic apex locator with different clinical conditions

Abstract

Background and objective: Accuracy of working length determination is important in successful endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to clinically compare working length determination in dry and wet canals with radiography and i- Root apex locater and in cases of presence or absence of peri apical lesion (An in vivo study).Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Endodontic in the College of Dentistry at Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq. A total number of 45 single rooted teeth with single canals have been evaluated. An access cavity was then prepared and the pulp was extriped with barbed broach. Initial electronic measurements have been done under a wet condition; the root canals were rinsed with normal saline and then dried with paper points. i-Root TM apex locator had been used to estimate the working length. Each measurement was repeated three times and the mean value was calculated and computed. Then the K- file was selected for each tooth according to the size of each canal and peri apical radiograph had been taken to measure the length for each canal and compared with recorded length by apex locater. Statistically analysis included the used of paired sample t-test. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There was no significant difference between working length determination by radiography and i-Root TM electronic apex locator in dry and wet canals and in case of presence or absence of peri apical lesion.Conclusion: This study did not show any difference between radiography, i-Root TM and direct visualization in working length determination.