Volume : 3
Issue : 3
Online ISSN : 2581-480X
Print ISSN : 2581-4796
Article First Page : 88
Article End Page : 93
Aim: To determine the best method amongst Elements Diagnostic Unit, conventional radiography and direct digital radiography by comparing them with the actual working length calculated through anatomic measurements.
Materials and Method: Fifty adult human single rooted teeth intended for extraction with mature apices and without resorptive defects were selected. Endodontic access was prepared, the root canal orifices were enlarged by Gates Glidden drill and the pulp was then extirpated. A 4th generation electronic apex locator Elements diagnostic Unit (Sybron Endo) was used as one of the devices to measure the working length along with radiographs which were taken on conventional E – speed film and the DDR’s intraoral sensor using paralleling technique & working length was determined by Ingles method. After extraction of the teeth, the external part of the apical 3rd of the root was grounded to expose the apical constriction. File was introduced through the access cavity and the stopper was set at initial occlusal reference point as the file reached the apical constriction under X4 magnification. This served as the actual working length. The mean difference between actual working length measurement and individual group measurements were calculated. Statistical analysis of resulting mean value was done using One Sample T Test. Intergroup analysis was done using one way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test.
Results: The results revealed no statistical significant difference between actual working length and working length as determined by Elements diagnostic Unit. Statistically significant difference was found between actual working length and working length as determined by conventional radiography and DDR (direct digital radiography).
Conclusion: Significant difference between Elements diagnostic Unit and both the radiographic techniques (conventional radiography and DDR). No statistical significant difference was found between conventional radiography and DDR (direct digital radiography).
Keywords: Working length determination, RVG, Apex locator