Determination of Working Length with Three Different Apex Locators

Svrha je istraživanja ispitati točnosti triju različitih endometara. Za to se koristilo ukupno 20 ekstrahirnih jednokorijenskih ljudskih zuba. Svi su postavljeni u alginatni model (Alginate Plus, Henry Schein, Melville, NY SAD) za elektronično određivanje radne duljine endometrom. Elektronička duljina izmjerena je trima različitim endometrima: Propex Apex Locatorom (Dentsply/Maillefer, Montigny le Bretonneux, Švicarska), Root ZX-om (Morita Europe, Dietzenbach, Njemačka) i Elements Diagnostic Unit Apex Locatorom (Sybron Endo, Glendora, California, SAD) te uporabom endodontskog proširivača (K file) broj15 (VDW GmbH, Munich, Njemačka). Nakon toga određena je i radiografska radna duljina - u kanal je postavljen proširivač broj 15 te oduzet 1 mm od samog apeksa. Svaki je korijenski kanal pripremljen u apikalnoj trećini korijena i zatim je stereomikroskopom analizirana udaljenost između točaka na instrumentu i apikalnog foramena. Dobiveni rezultati statistički su analizirani metodom ANOVA na programu SPSS 11,0. Nije bilo znatnih razlika između različitih korištenih endometara i rendgenske kontrole. U ovom je istraživanju dokazano da elektroničko mjerenje radne duljine različitim endometrima daje iste rezultate kao i određivanje duljine kanala rendgenskom kontrolom.The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy three different apex locators. A total of 20 extracted single - rooted human teeth were used for this study. The teeth were embedded in an alginate (Alginate Plus, Henry Schein, Melville, NY, USA) model developed for electric working length determination with apex locators. Electronic length measurement was achieved with three different apex locators: Propex Apex Locator (Dentsply/Maillefer, Montigny le Bretonneux, Switzerland), Root ZX (Morita Europe, Dietzenbach, Germany), Elements Diagnostic Unit Apex Locator (Sybron Endo, Glendora, California, USA) using a size 15 K file (VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany). After that the working length was determined radiographically by placing a size 15 file to the root canal, then subtracting 1 mm from apex. Each root canal was prepared in the apical third and the distance between the instrument’s tip to the apical foramen was analyzed under stereomicroscope. The results were subjected to statistical analysis with ANOVA using the SPSS 11.0 program. There were no significant differences between the different apex locators used and the radiographic control in determining working lengths. Electronic working length measurement with different apex locators used in this study proved the same results as the radiological control of canal length determination