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

Autor: Osei-Bonsu, Frank, Caldicock Ampofo, Patrick, Nyako, Ebenezer Anno, Hewlett, Sandra Ama, Buckman, Victoria Afi, Konadu, Akua Boakyewa, Blankson, Paa-Kwesi, Ndanu, Tom
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Zdroj: Journal of Conservative Dentistry; May/Jun2023, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p311-315, 5p
Abstrakt: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index