Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of two frequency apex locators, Root ZX (Morita, Kyoto, Japan) and Endex (Osada, Tokyo, Japan) in primary teeth with and without root resorption in vitro. For this study, 90 sound extracted primary teeth (60 molars and 30 incisors; 93 roots with visible resorption and 51 roots without) were selected. A total of 144 root canals were included. After access preparation, root canal lengths were measured visually. The teeth were embedded in an alginate model developed specifically for testing apex locators. Electronic length was determined with two different frequency apex locators, Root ZX (Morita, Kyoto, Japan) and Endex (Osada, Tokyo, Japan). Statistical evaluation was performed using Mann–Whitney U and Wilcoxon W tests (p < 0.05). Results revealed that both apex locator devices did not show similar values to visual length measurements with statistically significant differences in primary teeth with root resorption (p < 0.05). For the teeth without root resorption, Endex showed similar values to visual length measurements with no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), but Root ZX values were different than visual length and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two apex locators considering the presence of root resorption. The two frequency apex locators can be recommended for use in root canal therapy for primary teeth with and without root resorption, only if electrical determination of root canal length is supported with other diagnostic measures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belanger GK (1988) Pulp therapy for the primary dentition. In: Pinkham JR (ed) Pediatric dentistry. Saunders, Philadelphia, USA, pp 263
Blomlöf J, Jansson L, Blomlöf L, Lindskog S (1996) Root surface etching at neutral pH promotes periodontal healing. J Clin Periodontol 23:50–55
Brunton PA, Abdeen D, MacFarlane TV (2002) The effect of an apex locator on exposure to radiation during endodontic therapy. J Endod 28:524–526
Camp JH (1997) Pediatric endodontic treatment. In: Cohens S, Burns RC (eds) Handbook of pediatric dentistry. Mosby, London, UK, pp 83–94
Cotti E, Lusso D, Dettori C (1998) Management of apical inflammatory root resorption: report of a case. Int Endod J 31:301–304
Dandashi MB, Nazif MM, Zullo T, Elliott MA, Schneider LG, Czonstkowsky M (1993) An in vitro comparison of three endodontic techniques for primary incisors. Pediatr Dent 15:254–256
Dunlap CA, Remeikis NA, BeGole EA, Rauschenberger CR (1998) An in vivo evaluation of an electronic apex locator that uses the ratio method in vital and necrotic canals. J Endod 24:48–50
ElAyouti A, Weiger R, Lost C (2002) The ability of Root ZX apex locator to reduce the frequency of overestimated radiographic working length. J Endod 28:116–119
Fouad AF, Krell KV, McKendry DJ, Koorbusch GF, Olson RA (1990) Clinical evaluation of five electronic root canal length measuring instruments. J Endod 16:446–449
Frank AL, Torabinejad M (1993) An in vivo evaluation of Endex electronic apex locator. J Endod 19:177–179
Furseth R (1968) The resorption process of human deciduous teeth studied by light microscope, microradiography and electron microscopy. Arch Oral Biol 13:417–431
Goultschin J, Nitzan D, Azaz B (1982) Root resorption. Review and discussion. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 54:586–590
Hembrough JH, Weine FS, Pisano JV, Eskoz N (1993) Accuracy of an electronic apex locator: a clinical evaluation in maxillary molars. J Endod 19:242–246
Hess JC, Culieras MJ, Lambiable N (1983) A scanning electron microscopic investigation of principal and accessory foramina on the root surfaces of human teeth: thoughts about endodontic pathology and therapeutics. J Endod 9:275–281
Ingle JI (1957) Endodontic instruments and instrumentation. Dent Clin North Am 1:805–822
Katz A, Mass E, Kaufman AY (1996) Electronic apex locator: a useful tool for root canal treatment in the primary dentition. J Dent Child 63:414–417
Kaufman AY, Keila S, Yoshpe M (2002) Accuracy of a new apex locator: an in vitro study. Int Endod J 35:186–192
Kielbassa AM, Muller U, Munz I, Monting JS (2003) Clinical evaluation of the measuring accuracy of ROOT ZX in primary teeth. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 95:94–100
Kobayashi C, Suda H (1994) New electronic canal measuring device based on the ratio method. J Endod 20:111–114
Martinez-Lozano MA, Forner-Navarro L, Sanchez-Cortes JL, Llena-Puy C (2001) Methodological considerations in the determination of working length. Int Endod J 34:371–376
Meares WA, Steiman HR (2002) The influence of sodium hypochlorite irrigation on the accuracy of the Root ZX electronic apex locator. J Endod 28:595–598
Mente J, Seidel J, Buchalla W, Koch MJ (2002) Electronic determination of root canal length in primary teeth with and without root resorption. Int Endod J 35:447–452
Rodd HD, Waterhouse PJ, Fuks AB, Fayle SA, Moffat MA (2006) Pulp therapy for primary molars. Int J Paediatr Dent 16(Suppl 1):15–23
Saito T, Yamashita Y (1990) Electronic determination of root canal length by newly developed measuring device. Influences of the diameter of apical foramen, the size of K-file and the root canal irrigants. Dent Jpn 27:65–72
Shabahang S, Goon WW, Gluskin AH (1996) An in vivo evaluation of Root ZX electronic apex locator. J Endod 22:616–618
Stein TJ, Corcoran JF (1992) Radiographic “working length” revisited. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 74:796–800
Sunada I (1962) New method for measuring the length of the root canal. J Dent Res 41:375–385
Suzuki K, Sunada I, Nagasawa W (1962) A study of the technique of root canal therapy. J Dent Res 41:508
Takushige T, Cruz EV, Asgor Moral A, Hoshino E (2004) Endodontic treatment of primary teeth using a combination of antibacterial drugs. Int Endod J 37:132–138
Tinaz AC, Alacam T, Topuz O (2002) A simple model to demonstrate the electronic apex locator. Int Endod J 35:940–945
Welk AR, Baumgartner JC, Marshall JG (2003) An in vivo comparison of two frequency based electronic apex locators. J Endod 29:497–500
Wu YN, Shi JN, Huang LZ, Xu YY (1992) Variables affecting electronic root canal measurement. Int Endod J 25:88–92
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bodur, H., Odabaş, M., Tulunoğlu, Ö. et al. Accuracy of two different apex locators in primary teeth with and without root resorption. Clin Oral Invest 12, 137–141 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-007-0157-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-007-0157-5