In vitro evaluation of accuracy and consistency of four different electronic apex locators

Jae-Hyun Cho; Kee-Yeon Kum; Seung-Jong Lee

doi:10.5395/JKACD.2006.31.5.390

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Cho, Kum, and Lee: In vitro evaluation of accuracy and consistency of four different electronic apex locators

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry

Journal of Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry 2006; 31(5): 390-397.

Published online: 30 September 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5395/JKACD.2006.31.5.390

In vitro evaluation of accuracy and consistency of four different electronic apex locators

Jae-Hyun Cho¹, Kee-Yeon Kum², Seung-Jong Lee¹

¹Department of Conservative Dentistry, Oral Science Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Conservative Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding Author: Seung-Jong Lee. Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, 134, Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2228-8700, Fax: 82-2-313-7575, sjlee@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Received 21 July 2006 Revised 15 August 2006 Accepted 8 September 2006

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the consistency of four different electronic apex locators in an in vitro model.

Fourty extracted premolars were used for the study. Four electronic apex locators (EAL) were Root ZX, SmarPex, Elements Diagnostic Unit (EDU), and E-Magic Finder Deluxe (EMF). After access preparation, the teeth were embedded in an alginate model and the length measurements were carried out at "0.5"and "Apex"mark using four EALs. The file was cemented at the location of the manufacturers'instruction (Root ZX, EDU, EMF: 0.5 mark, SmarPex: Apex mark). The apical 4mm of the apex was exposed and the distance from the file tip to the major foramen was measured by Image ProPlus (× 100). The distance from the file tip to the major foramen was calculated at 0.5 and Apex mark and the consistency of 0.5 and Apex mark was compared by SD and Quartile of Box plots.

In this study, Root ZX and EMF located the apical constriction accurately within ± 0.5 mm in 100%, whereas SmarPex and EDU located in 90% and in 70% respectively. For Root ZX and EMF, there was no significant difference between the consistency of 0.5 and Apex mark. However, for the EDU and SmarPex, Apex mark was more consistent than 0.5 mark.

From the evaluation of the consistency in this study, for Root ZX and EMF, both 0.5 and Apex mark can be used as a standard mark. And for EDU and SmarPex, the Apex mark can be recommended to be used as a standard mark.

Keywords: Electronic apex locator, Consistency, Accuracy, Alginate model, Major foramen, Apical constriction

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Alginate model.

Figure 2

Length measurement with Digital caliper.

Figure 3

Distance measurement between the file tip and major foramen by Image ProPlus.

Figure 4

Box plots : Distance between the file tip and the major foramen at 0.5 and Apex mark (Quartile: the value of 75%-the value of 25%, The mark in which Quartile is smaller is more consistent).

Table 1

Distance between the file tip and the major foramen measured by Image ProPlus (mm)

Table 2

Distance between the file tip and the major foramen at 0.5 and Apex mark (mm)

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