15Nov 2017

ACCURACY OF APEX LOCATORS VERSUS RADIOGRAPHIC METHOD IN WORKING LENGTH DETERMINATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

  • Assistant Lecturer, Endodontic department, Faculty of Oral & Dental Medicine, Cairo University.
  • Professor of endodontics, Endodontic department, Faculty of Oral & Dental Medicine, Cairo University.
  • Assistant professor, Endodontic department, Faculty of Oral & Dental Medicine, Cairo University.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

Background: Accurate determination of the working length has a great impact on treatment prognosis. Apex locators have evolved to overcome the limitations of conventional radiography and increase the accuracy of working length determination. There is limited evidence about whether apex locators are actually superior to radiographic method. Aim: This study aims to review different clinical studies on the accuracy of apex locators in comparison to radiographic method for working length determination in permanent teeth. Methods: Clinical studies that compared apex locators to radiographic method were searched for in 3 databases including PubMed, Cochrane & Lilacs in addition to manual search to identify other potentially relevant articles. Nine articles were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Results: There is no significant difference between radiographic method and electronic apex locators in working length accuracy, obturation adequacy & Postoperative pain, however, there was a statistical significant difference between the two groups regarding the master cone accuracy in the favour of the radiographic method. Conclusion: Electronic apex locators are comparable in the accuracy of working length determination to radiographic method. However, electronic apex locators and digital radiographic methods were found to be beneficial from the perspective of radiation dose reduction.

  1. Abdullah A, Singh N, Rathore MS, Tandon S, Rajkumar B. Comparative Evaluation of Electronic Apex Locators and Radiovisiography for Working Length Determination in Primary Teeth in vivo. International Journal of Clincal Pediatric Dentistry 2016; 9:118-123.
  2. Abu Naeem F., Abdelaziz S., Ahmed G.: Evaluation of postoperative pain after working length determination using electronic apex locator versus digital radiography in multirooted teeth. A Randomized Controlled Trial. International journal of advanced research 2017; 5: 799-809.
  3. Cianconi L., Angotti V., Felici R., Conte G., Mancini M.: Accuracy of three electronic apex locators compared with digital radiography: an ex vivo study. Journal of Endodontics 2010; 36: 2003-2007.
  4. Dinapadu S., Pasari S., Admala SR., Marukala NR., Gurram S., Peddi R.: Accuracy of electronic apex locator in enlarged root canals with different root canal irrigants: an in vitro study.- Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice 2013; 14: 649-652.
  5. Diwanji A., Rathore A., Arora R., Dhar V., Madhusudan A., Doshi J.: Working Length Determination of Root Canal of Young Permanent Tooth: An In vitro Study. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research 2014; 4: 554-558.
  6. Dotto R., Renner D., Barletta F.: Avalia??o da determina??o do comprimento de trabalho atrav?s do localizador apical electr?nico Novapex. Ver Odontol Univ Cid Sao Paulo 2005; 17: 263?269.
  7. Fouad A., Reid L.: Effect of using electronic apex locators on selected endodontic treatment parameters. Journal of Endodontics 2000; 26: 364-367.
  8. Groove C.: Why root canals should be filled to the dentinocemental junction. The Journal of the American Medical Association 1931; 2: 1986?1989.
  9. Gutmann J.L., Leonard J.E.: Problem solving in endodontic working-length determination. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry 1995; 16: 288.
  10. Hassanien E., Hashem A., Chalfin H.: Histomorphometric study of the root apex of mandibular premolar teeth: an attempt to correlate working length measured with electronic and radiographic methods to various anatomic positions in the apical portion of the canal. Journal of Endodontics 2008; 34: 408?412.
  11. Huanca G., Espinoza I.: Conductometr?a establecida con el foramatron iv y la radiograf?a convencional ? estudio ?in vivo?. Revista Kiru. 2010; 7: 13-15.
  12. Jarad F.D., Albadri S., Gamble C., Burnside G., Fox K., Ashley J.R., Peers G., Preston A.J.: Working length determination in general practice: a randomized controlled trial. British Dental Journal 2011; 211: 595-598.
  13. Kara Tuncer A., Gerek, M.: Effect of working length measurement by electronic apex locator or digital radiography on postoperative pain: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Endodontics 2014; 40, 38?41.
  14. Khursheed I., Bansal R., Bansal T., Singh HP., Yadav M., Reddy KJ.: A comparative evaluation of working length with digital radiography and third generation apex locator (ProPex) in the presence of various intracanal irrigants: An in vivo/ex vivo study. Dental Research Journal 2014; 11: 56-60.
  15. Kishor KM.: Comparison of working length determination using apex locator, conventional radiography and radiovisiography: an in vitro study. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice 2012; 13: 550-553.
  16. Ko?ak S., Ko?ak MM., Saglam BC.: Efficiency of 2 electronic apex locators on working length determination: A clinical study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry 2013; 16: 229-232.
  17. Kqiku L., St?dtler P.: Radiographic versus electronic root canal working length determination. Indian Journal of Dental Research 2011; 22: 777-780.
  18. Krajcz?r K., Marada G., Gyulai G., T?th V.: Comparison of radiographic and electronical working length determination on palatal and mesio-buccal root canals of extracted upper molars. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology Endodontics 2008; 106: e90-93.
  19. Krajcz?r K., Solt?sz MZ., Gyulai G., Marada G., Szab? G., T?th V.: Direct comparison of working length determination by ProPex electronic apex locator and radiographic method--an in vitro study. Fogorvosi Szemle 2008; 101: 107-111.
  20. Kumar LV., Sreelakshmi N., Reddy ER., Manjula M., Rani ST., Rajesh A.: Clinical Evaluation of Conventional Radiography, Radiovisiography, and an Electronic Apex Locator in Determining the Working Length in Primary Teeth. Pediatric Dentistry 2016; 38: 37-41.
  21. Mandlik J., Shah N., Pawar K., Gupta P., Singh S., Shaik SA.: An in vivo evaluation of different methods of working length determination. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice 2013; 14: 644-648.
  22. Mart?nez-Lozano MA., Forner-Navarro L., S?nchez-Cort?s JL., Llena-Puy C.: Methodological considerations in the determination of working length. International Endodontic Journal 2001; 34:371-376.
  23. Martins JN., Marques D., Mata A., Carames J.: Clinical Efficacy of Electronic Apex Locators: Systematic Review. J Endod 2014; 40: 759?799.
  24. Mello-Moura AC., Moura-Netto C., Araki AT., Guedes-Pinto AC., Mendes FM.: Ex vivo performance of five methods for root canal length determination in primary anterior teeth. International Endodontic Journal 2010; 43: 142-147.
  25. Mohan G., Anand V.: Accuracy of Different Methods of Working Length Determination in Endodontics. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2013; 12: 25-38.
  26. Mrasori S., Budina R., Dragidella F.: In vitro evaluation of three electronic apex locators using conventional methods and cone beam computed tomography. Minerva Stomatology 2014; 63:259-266.
  27. Neena IE., Ananthraj A., Praveen P., Karthik V.., Rani P: Comparison of digital radiography and apex locator with the conventional method in root length determination of primary teeth. Journal of Indian Soc Pedodontic Preventive Dentistry 2011; 29 :300-304.
  28. Orosco FA., Bernardineli N., Garcia RB., Bramante CM., Duarte MA., Moraes IG.: In vivo accuracy of conventional and digital radiographic methods in confirming root canal working length determination by Root ZX.: Journal of Applied Oral Science 2012; 20:522-525.
  29. Ravanshad S., Adl A., Anvar J.: Effect of working length measurement by electronic apex locator or radiography on the adequacy of final working length: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Endodontics 2010; 36: 1753-1756.
  30. Real DG., Davidowicz H., Moura-Netto C., Zenkner Cde L., Pagliarin CM., Barletta FB., de Moura AA.:Accuracy of working length determination using 3 electronic apex locators and direct digital radiography.Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology Endodontics 2011;111: e44-49.
  31. Reddy V., Kommineni N., & Simha P., Reddy V., Samyuktha C., Battepati P.: Comparison of the Accuracy of Apex Locators with Conventional Techniques in Determining the Root Canal Length in Primary Teeth. Journal of Contemporary Dentistry 2015; 5: 61-64.
  32. Saad Y., Al-Nazhan S.: Radiation dose reduction during endodontic therapy: a new technique combining an apex locator (Root ZX) and a digital imaging system (RadioVisioGraphy). Journal of Endodontics 2000; 26: 144-147.
  33. Saritha S., Uloopi KS., Vinay C., Chandra Sekhar R., Rao VV.: Clinical evaluation of Root ZX II electronic apex locator in primary teeth. European Archives Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 13: 32-35.
  34. Schilder H., Hargreaves K. M.: Filling root canals in three dimensions. Journal of Endodontics 2006; 32: 281?290.
  35. Shanmugaraj M., Nivedha R., Mathan R., Balagopal S.: Evaluation of working length determination methods: An in vivo / ex vivo study. Indian Journal of Dental Research 2007; 18: 60-62.
  36. Singh D., Tyagi SP., Gupta S., Jain A.: Comparative evaluation of adequacy of final working length after using Raypex5 or radiography: An in vivo study. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry 2015; 33: 208-212.
  37. Smadi L.: Comparison between two methods of working length determination and its effect on radiographic extent of root canal filling: a clinical study: BioMed Central Oral Health 2006; 11; 1-6.
  38. Subramaniam P., Konde S., Mandanna DK.: An in vitro comparison of root canal measurement in primary teeth. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry 2005; 23: 124-125.
  39. Topaloglu-Ak A., Yetkiner A., Baksi B., Eronat C.: Ex vivo comparison of radiographic and electronic root canal length measurements in primary molars. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2015; 16/2: 149-153.
  40. Wankhade AD., Kumar R., Singh RK., Chandra A.: Root canal length determination by different methods in primary teeth: an in vivo study. Pediatric Dentistry 2013; 35: 38-42.
  41. Yılmaz F., Kamburoglu K., Senel B.: Endodontic Working Length Measurement Using Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Images Obtained at Different Voxel Sizes and Field of Views, Periapical Radiography, and Apex Locator: A Comparative Ex Vivo Study. Journal of Endodontics 2017; 43: 152?156.

[Fatma M. Abu Naeem, Saied M. Abdelaziz and Geraldine M. Ahmed. (2017); ACCURACY OF APEX LOCATORS VERSUS RADIOGRAPHIC METHOD IN WORKING LENGTH DETERMINATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Nov). 506-518] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Fatma
assistant lecturer

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5796      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5796

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads: 103 | No. of Views: 452