Comparative clinical assessment of working length endo-motor apex locator versus radiographic method in endo-dontic therapy.

Abstract

Introduction: The technological and therapeutic advancements suggests that, choosing an appropriate endodontic approach is the key parameter to mitigate over radiation exposure and locating precise root canal length.
Objective: Current study aims to evaluate the comparative accuracy of working length apex locator versus radiographic apex locator in in endodontic therapy among patients belonging from Sindh, Pakistan.
Methodology: Current four-month duration based cross-sectional study focusing endodontic therapeutic techniques was conducted at Bibi Aseefa Dental College Larkana Sindh Pakistan. 124 patients requiring non-surgical root canal therapy were included in the study for working length apex locator and radiographic apex locator techniques. Film positioner were used to assess the morphology and initial working length of tooth by radiographic apex locator technique. Whereas glide path and working length was achieved with #12/02 M3 – Pro Gold File (United Dental) with 00 reading in Endo-Matic apex locator. Further data analysis was achieved with SPSS Version 20 and Microsoft Office 2010 multiple tools.
Results: Among 124 patients, 69 (55.6%) were males and 55 (44.4%) were females with mean age of 33.60±12.87 years. We found comparative accuracy of 77 % of working length apex locator in terms of apical limit determination. Whereas, in case of radiographic apex locators 70 % accuracy was recorded.
Conclusion: Working length endomotor with built in apex locators provide satisfac-tory control of apical limit of endodontic treatment and better time saving option, however radiographic confirmations remain the confirmatory length measurement tool to identify the dimension of canal and path obtained by endodontic instru-ment.
Keywords: EndoMatic, Electronic Apex Locators, Hybrid Endomotors, Radiograph, Working Length.