J Korean Acad Conserv Dent.  2008 Jan;33(1):20-27. 10.5395/JKACD.2008.33.1.020.

In vitro evaluation of the consistency of two electronic apex locators

• Hwang GY
• Roh BD
• Kim ES
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 1986746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2008.33.1.020

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of two electronic apex locators in vitro model. Materials consisted of fifty two extracted premolars and two electronic apex locators; Root ZX (J. Morita, Osaka, Japan) and E-Magic Finder Deluxe (S-Denti, Cheonan, Korea). After access preparation, the teeth were embedded in a saline-mixed alginate model. Canal lengths of each tooth were measured at "0.5" and "Apex" mark of the apex locators, respectively so that each tooth had two measurements from 0.5 and Apex points. The file was fixed at final measurement using a glass ionomer cement. The apical 4 mm from the apex was exposed to measure the distance from the file tip to the major apical foramen of each tooth. Average distances and standard deviations were used to evaluate the consistency.
Results
showed that all measurements of both Root ZX and E-Magic Finder located the major foramen the range of +/- 0.5 mm level. Both apex locators showed better consistency at Apex mark than at 0.5 mark. The average distance of file tip-major foramen was - 0.18 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.07 mm at Apex mark in Root ZX, - 0.25 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.02 mm at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder. Standard deviation was 0.21 at 0.5 mark and 0.12 at Apex mark in Root ZX, 0.12 at 0.5 mark and 0.09 at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder.

Keyword

Alginate model; apical constriction; consistency; electronic apex locator; major foramen

MeSH Terms

Acrylic Resins
Alginates
Bicuspid
Electronics
Electrons
Glass Ionomer Cements
Glucuronic Acid
Hexuronic Acids
Silicon Dioxide
Tooth
Tooth Apex
Acrylic Resins
Alginates
Glass Ionomer Cements
Glucuronic Acid
Hexuronic Acids
Silicon Dioxide

Figure

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  Figure 1 Root ZX.

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  Figure 2 E-Magic Finder.

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  Figure 3 Length measurements with digital caliper.

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  Figure 4 Distance from file tip to major foramen with EasyDent Viewer.

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  Figure 5 Box plots: Quartile of file tip-major foramen distance at 0.5 mark and Apex mark.

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