Journal of Conservative Dentistry
Home About us Editorial Board Instructions Submission Subscribe Advertise Contact e-Alerts Login 
Users Online: 2784
Print this page  Email this page Bookmark this page Small font sizeDefault font sizeIncrease font size
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2023  |  Volume : 26  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 311-315

Accuracy of the electronic apex locator, tactile, and radiographic methods in working length determination


1 Dental Department, Greater Accra Regional Hospital; Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, Ghana
2 Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, Ghana
3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, Ghana
4 Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, Ghana

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Frank Osei-Bonsu
P. O. Box KB-313, Korle-Bu, Accra
Ghana
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/jcd.jcd_45_23

Rights and Permissions

Background: Determination of working length (WL) is necessary for the successful outcome of root canal treatment (RCT). Common methods in WL determination include tactile, radiographic, and electronic apex locators (EAL). Aim: The aim of this study was to compare three methods of WL determination to the actual visualization of the apical constriction (AC). Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with indications for extraction of single-rooted single canal teeth at the University of Ghana Dental School clinic were randomly assigned to three groups. In-vivo root canal WL was determined by tactile sensation, digital radiography, and a 5th generation EAL (Sendoline S5). Files were cemented in the canals after the in-vivo measurements. The apical 4–5 mm of the roots was trimmed to expose the inserted files and the AC. Actual WL, as determined by visualization of the AC, was done using a digital microscope. Different WLs were then compared for the various groups, and the mean actual canal lengths were reported. Results: EAL accurately predicted the AC in 31 (96.9%) teeth, while the digital radiographic and tactile sensation methods accurately predicted the constriction in 19 (59.4%) and 8 (25%) teeth, respectively, in the study population. The mean working canal lengths for single-rooted teeth showed no observable difference among sexes, age categories, and side of the jaw. Conclusion: The EAL provided more reliable and accurate WL measurements for single-rooted teeth among Ghanaians, compared to digital radiography and tactile methods.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed1806    
    Printed154    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded93    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal