Abstract
ObjectivesTo compare, in vivo, the accuracy of conventional and digital radiographic methods in determining root canal working length. Material and MethodsTwenty-five maxillary incisor or canine teeth from 22 patients were used in this study. Considering the preoperative radiographs as the baseline, a 25 K file was inserted into the root canal to the point where the Root ZX electronic apex locator indicated the APEX measurement in the screen. From this measurement, 1 mm was subtracted for positioning the file. The radiographic measurements were made using a digital sensor (Digora 1.51) or conventional type-E films, size 2, following the paralleling technique, to determine the distance of the file tip and the radiographic apex. ResultsThe Student "t" test indicated mean distances of 1.11 mm to conventional and 1.20 mm for the digital method and indicated a significant statistical difference (p<0.05). ConclusionsThe conventional radiographic method was found to be superior to the digital one in determining the working length of the root canal.
Highlights
One of the main difficulties during endodontic treatment is to establish the root canal working length
The following surgical sequence was adopted in all cases: anesthesia, absolute isolation, access opening, pulp extirpation and instrumentation of the cervical and medium thirds of the root canal, up to about 4 mm coronal to the radiographic apex; all the canals were irrigated with 1% sodium hypochlorite at each instrument change
It is important to emphasize that this device indicates the location of the apical foramen, which in most cases does not coincide with the apex
Summary
One of the main difficulties during endodontic treatment is to establish the root canal working length. This point would have to be the apical constriction. The conventional radiographic method is traditionally used to determine the root canal working length. During this process, the distance between the tip of the file inserted in the root canal and the tip of the radiographic apex is measured. The distance between the tip of the file inserted in the root canal and the tip of the radiographic apex is measured Based on this measurement the full working length can be estimated. The conventional radiographic method presents some inconveniences, like the overlapping of anatomical structures and mainly the position of the apical foramen in relation to the apex, which in most cases does not coincide, and the film-processing time
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