THE ACCURACY OF DIGORA SYSTEM, AN INDIRECT DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHIC SYSTEM, IN DETERMINING THE WORKING LENGTH

근관장 측정시 구내 디지털 방사선 시스템인 Digora System의 정확도에 관한 연구

An accurate working length is an essential factor in the success of endodontic treatment. There are several methods for determining working length; electronic apex locator, tactile sense by clinician, and radiography. Among these methods, the most commonly used method is radiography. But this method requires excessive radiation, long developing time, and many equipments. In additon, it could give an image distortion and two dimensional image. To improve these disadvantages, an intraoral digital radiographic system (Digora$^{(R)}$) which use an imaging plate instead of a film, was developed. The purpose of this investigation was to compare Digora imaging with conventional radiography in determining the working length. Maxillary first or second molars of human dried skull were used. Files were inserted into canals at randomly selected lengths, from 2mm short of the radiographic apex to 2rnm beyond. Radiographs and Digora images(Digora positive and Digora negative) were evaluated to determine the adjustment needed to place the file 0.5mm from the radiographic apex. The results were as follows ; 1. There was no significant difference in accuracy between those evaluated in ${\pm}0.5mm$ and those accurately evaluated in the 3 images. 2. When comparing the accuracy of each image without distinguishing the 3 images, in the group accurately determined within ${\pm}0.5mm$, the mesiobuccal group showed significantly higher accuracy compared to the palatal group(p<0.05).