Saima Nawab, Muzammil Jamil Ahmed Rana, Ahmed Yar.
Comparative evaluation of working length with digital radiography and third generation electronic apex locator.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;36(2):308-11.

Precise working length determination is mandatory to accomplish the desired aim of root canal treatment. Advanced techniques of working length determination include digital radiography and electronic apex locator. The objective of the present study was to juxtapose the difference between the precision of working length taken by digital radiographs and third generation electronic apex locator and correspond it with directly measured root canal lengths after extraction of the same teeth. The Present comparative study was conducted,at Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry,Rawalpindi from August 2014 to March 2016.Fifty human,maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth with closed apices which were planned for extraction were selected for the study.Working length determination for all teeth were initially done with the help of electronic apex locator and stable occlusal refrence points were recorded followed by working length determination by directly observing digital radiograph on the displaying screen,by three different clinicians.After extraction of teeth, actual working length of canals at apical constriction were determined under dental magnification loupes.The difference of two experimental termination points (digital radiographic and electronic apex locator) from ideal termination point (after extraction) was compared. Statistical analysis of data was undertaken by independent sample t-test (SPSS,version 20) and the results revealed no remarkable variation of radiographic and electronic working lengths from actual working length but electronic apex locator was slightly more accurate (58%) than digital radiographs (42%).

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