Comparison of Conventional Radiography and Apex Locator

Success in endodontic treatment depends on various factors. One of the most important factors is an appropriate preparation of the root canal system in addition to keep the periapical region intact as much as possible. This is achieved by determining the penetration depth of the instruments into the canal or the "working length": Several methods are introduced for working length determination. The most popular techniques are conventional radiography and electronic apex locators. A new type of apex locators is the Root ZX. Objectives: The purpose of this study was comparing the accuracy of the Root ZX in vitro with the conventional radiography. Methods: The working length of thirty extracted single-rooted teeth were determined by the means of the Root ZX and conventional radiography, then compared with the actual working lengths measured by the stereomicroscope. Results: The results showed there was statistically significant difference between the length determined by the Root ZX and stereomicroscope. In addition, the radiographic and stereomicroscopic working lengths had statistically significant differences as well. There was also significant difference between the length measured by the Root ZX and radiography. Conclusion: Thus, it is recommended to use the Root ZX and radiography both together to reach the most accurate working length.