Naveen Khawaja, Suneel Kumar Punjabi, Abdul Qadir Dal, Munir Ahmed Banglani, Ramesh Lal.
ELECTRONIC APEX LOCATOR VERSUS CONVENTIONAL RADIOGRAPH; Determination of working length: a prospective in-vivo study.
Professional Med J Jan ;22(12):1612-6.

For successful endodontic outcome, accurate working length has to be determined. Even with improved systems of working length (WL) measurement, different readings may be recorded in different electrolytes present in the canal. Methodology: Total 90 patients were selected for this prospective in vivo study resented at Department of Operative Dentistry, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, during 6 months i.e. from 1st Sep 2014 to 28th Feb 2015, with single rooted permanent mandibular first premolars with matured apices. After extirpated pulp tissue a file was inserted in the canal and WL was obtained by radiograph as well as by electronic apex locator (EAL). The measurements determined by both methods were compared by applying paired sample t-test. SPSS 18 was used for data analysis. Results: Among 90 subjects 37 were males. Mean±SD WL obtained radiographically was 19.8±1.03-m whereas mean±SD WL obtained electronically was 18.9±1.05 mm. Mean difference between measurements of both methods was 0.87-mm, which was statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion: The electronic apex locator was better than the radiograph in determining working length of root canal at statistically significant level.

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