• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Root ZX and Sybron Mini in determining the working length using 2.5% Sodium Hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine gel and saline. Donnelly's gelatin technique was used for measuring twenty extracted human teeth. Electronic working length was measured at the display 0.5 and 0.0 level of each electronic apex locator using a digital caliper to the nearest 0.01 mm. Each measurement was repeated for each different irrigants. Accuracy of Sybron Mini was not significantly different from the Root ZX in the three different irrigants, and there was no significant difference in the accuracy of electronic apex locators among the irrigants when used as recommended by manufacturer (measuring electronic working length at 0.0 level of Sybron Mini and at 0.5 level of Root ZX).

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.390-397
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• 2006

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 (${\times}100$). 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 ${\pm}0.5 mm$ 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.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.477-485
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to compare the length between the mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual canal of the mandibular molars before and after early coronal flaring at the different measuring time using several electronic apex locators. Fifty mandibular molars with complete apical formation and patent foramens were selected. After establishing the initial working length of the buccal and lingual canal of the mesial root using a surgical microscope (Carl Zeiss Co Germany) at 25X with #15 K-fle tip just visible at the foramen, radiographs were taken for the working length. After measuring the length of mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual canal (control group), the electronic lengths were measured at different times using several electronic apex locators (experimental groups; I-Root ZX, II-Bingo, III-Propex, IV-Diagnostic). After early coronal flaring using the $K^3$ file, the additional electronic lengths were measured using the same manner The results were as follows: One canal has a correct working length for the mesial root of the mandibular molar, it can be used effectively for measuring the electronic working length of another canal when the files are superimposed or encountered at the apex. In addition, the accuracy of the electronic apex locators was increased as the measurement was accomplished after the early coronal flaring of the root canal and the measuring time was repeated.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.371-377
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to assess the accuracy of measurements in pre-enlarged canals with small instruments and to compare the accuracies, in enlarged canal, with small size instruments and instruments that match the actual canal diameter using Root ZX, Bingo1020, SmarPex, and e-Magic Finder. Ten extracted teeth were embedded in an alginate model made for testing apex locators. A size 10 file was placed into the root canal until the tip of the file reached the plane of the major diameter of the foramen under a dental operating microscope at the 25 x magnification. The measurement was done with digital caliper and defined as actual length. Electronic length measurement with a size 10 file in pre-enlarged canal was done by reading the index indicating Apex of each device to gain a definite value After completion of canal enlargement to a size 45 file, each difference between actual length and electric measurement value with a size 10 and 40 files in enlarged canal was recorded as L10 and L40. The one-way ANOVA and Scheffe's multiple range tests were computed for analyze the differences among the four apex locators in the same group. The Student's t-test between L10 and L40 of each locator was done. The accuracies of electronic measurements were significantly different among the 4 devices. The file size made no difference on the accuracy of electronic measurement in enlarged canal with same device. The e-Magic Finder was the most accurate device among the 4 apex locators used in this study.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of two electronic apex locators in vitro model. Materials consisted of fifty two extracted premolars and two electronic apex locators; Root ZX (J. Morita, Osaka, Japan) and E-Magic Finder Deluxe (S-Denti. Cheonan, Korea). After access preparation, the teeth were embedded in a saline-mixed alginate model. Canal lengths of each tooth were measured at "0.5" and "Apex" mark of the apex locators, respectively so that each tooth had two measurements from 0.5 and Apex points. The file was fixed at final measurement using a glass ionomer cement. The apical 4 mm from the apex was exposed to measure the distance from the file tip to the major apical foramen of each tooth. Average distances and standard deviations were used to evaluate the consistency. Results showed that all measurements of both Root ZX and E-Magic Finder located the major foramen the range of ${\pm}0.5\;mm$ level. Both apex locators showed better consistency at Apex mark than at 0.5 mark. The average distance of file tip-major foramen was - 0.18 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.07 mm at Apex mark in Root ZX, - 0.25 mm at 0.5 mark and - 0.02 mm at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder. Standard deviation was 0.21 at 0.5 mark and 0.12 at Apex mark in Root ZX, 0.12 at 0.5 mark and 0.09 at Apex mark in E-Magic Finder.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.453-460
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• 2010

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy and consistency of two different apex locators at both the Apex and 0.5 marks. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six root canals was scheduled for extraction for periodontal or prosthodontic reasons. Thirteen canals were measured using Root ZX and the rest by i-ROOT. The root canal length was measured both the at 0.5 mark and the Apex mark. The file was then fixed to the toot, and the distance from the file tip to the major foramen of each canal was measured after removing the root dentin under the microscope so that the major foramen and the file tip were seen. Results: 1. When the Apex mark was used, 100% of both the Root ZX and i-ROOT groups were within 0.5 mm of the major foramen. 2. When 0.5 mark was used, 100% of the Root ZX group and 77% of the i-ROOT group were within 0.5 mm of the major foramen. 3. In terms of standard deviation and quartile value, the Apex mark was more consistent than 0.5 mark in the Root ZX group, and 0.5 mark was more consistent in the i-ROOT group, but there was no statistically significant difference when compared with t-test. 4. The root canal length difference between the Apex mark and 0.5 mark was 0.22 mm and 0.46 mm in the Root ZX and i-ROOT groups, respectively. Conclusions: In this study, the Apex mark was the more consistent mark. Therefore, it is recommended to subtract 0.5 mm, which is the average length between the apex and apical constriction, from the root canal length at the Apex mark to obtain the working length clinically.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.647-648
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• 2006

The length of root canal has to be measured to cure root canal. Several apex locators were developed to measure the length of root canal. And they were verified by X-ray or micrometer method. But these methods do not consider the non-linear bends of pulp and have ${\pm}0.5mm$ error which is large to measure the length of root canal. The purpose of this study is the research of new method to measure the length of root canal and verifying the apex locator using Micro-CT. The length of root canal of 6 teeth were measured with the apex locator. When the apex locator reads 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0mm, the teeth with the file fixed were photographed. The average lengths of root canal of 6 teeth measured by Micro-CT were 0.488, 0.589, 0.680, 0.775, 0.897, 0.992mm.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.429-435
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• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate average working lengths of Korean posterior teeth and evaluate validity of endodontic file length. Materials and Methods: The endodontic working length of the posterior teeth of 670 Korean patients were measured than each mean value and standard deviation were investigated than the frequency deviation and standard deviation per each length were calculated. Results: Among the canals of premolar, 66.5% of canal length was marked under 20 mm by endodontic working length and 95.4% could be measured under 22 mm and Among the canals of molars, 95.5% of canal length was marked under 20 mm endodontic working length. Conclusions: With the result of measurement of endodontic working length of premolars of Korean, it suggested that 23 mm endodontic file is more proper than the 21 mm and 25 mm file on the market.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 1998

Among the apex locators, the frequency dependent type is more accurate and convenient to use than others, But the accuracy of the apex locator is still influenced by the presence of various electrolytes used in root canal treatments. In this study, we have developed a frequency dependent electronic apex locator minimizing the influence of the electrolytes on the measurement of root canal lengths. It was also confirmed that two frequencies of 500Hz and 100kHz are optimal for the measuring impedance compare with commercial product used(400Hz and 8kHz)a and there were no differences in accuracy among the three different types of the waveforms; sinusoidal, triangular, and rectangular waves(p>0.05). Impedance ratio of the two different frequencies represents the position of the file in root canal, and the voltage difference of two signals represents the status of the fluid in the root canal. As a result of compensation using the voltage differences, the errors were decreased on the average from +0.54mm to +0.18mm in $H_2O_2$ solution (p<0.01), and from -0.33mm to -0.01mm in NaOCl solution(p<0.01). The accuracies based on ${\pm}$0.5mm, in $H_2O_2$ and NaOCl solutions were improved with the automatic compensation from 71.1% and 91.1% to 82.2% and 100% respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.8 s.197
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• pp.116-121
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• 2007

The length of root canal has to be measured for endodontic treatment. Several electronic apex locators were developed to measure the length of root canal by other researchers. And their accuracies were verified by X-ray or micrometer method. But these methods did not consider the non-linear bends of pulp and had ${\pm}0.5mm$ error which was large enough to measure the length of root canal. The purpose of this study is the introduction of a new method to measure the length of root canal and the verification of the accuracy of an electronic apex locator using a Micro-CT. The length of root canal of 6 teeth were measured with the electronic apex locator. When the electronic apex locator reads 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 mm length of the file which was inserted in the hole of the tooth to measure the length of root canal. The average (${\pm}$Standard deviation) length of root canal of 6 teeth measured by the Micro-CT was $0.49{\pm}0.03,\;0.59{\pm}0.04,\;0.68{\pm}0.03,\;0.78{\pm}0.03,\;0.90{\pm}0.04\;and\;1.01{\pm}0.03mm$, respectively. The maximum error of the electronic apex locator was 0.06 mm.