Working length determination: comparative analysis of integrated & electronic apex locator in various irrigating solutions

Abstract

Introduction: Working length (WL) determination is one of the crucial steps in endodontic treatment. Conventional Apex locators (EAL) are consistently employed nowadays for WL determination. Apart from the EAL, Integrated apex locators (IAL) have also come into the market that aim to reduce the number of steps. Objectives: The objective of this in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the accuracy of Eighteeth E-Connect S (IAL) and Root ZX Mini (EAL) in two different irrigating solutions. Methodology: Thirty freshly extracted, single-rooted teeth were taken. The teeth were then individually mounted on an alginate mould. The measurements of the mounted samples of both the groups were taken accordingly based on the irrigating solutions. WL determination was done one by one with both Conventional Apex locator & Integrated apex locator, respectively in 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 2% Chlorhexidine (CHX). Statistical analysis was performed using One Way ANOVA test. Results: The test results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between EAL & IAL in both groups when compared with the actual WL.Conclusion: Both ALs were equally effective in determining WL at ±0.5mm from the apex in the presence of irrigating solutions, i.e., NaOCl and CHX.