Influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of an electronic foramen locator in posterior teeth: an in vivo study

• Main Authors: Daniel Renner (Author), Renata Grazziotin-Soares (Author), Giulio Gavini (Author), Fernando Branco Barletta (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica, 2012-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1590/S1806-83242012000200004; 1806-8324
• Keywords: Endodontics; Tooth Apex; Root Canal Therapy; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Brazilian Oral Research, Vol 26, Iss 2, Pp 106-111 (2012)

The aim of this study was to assess, in vivo, the accuracy of the NovApex® electronic foramen locator in determining working length (WL) in vital and necrotic posterior teeth. The NovApex®was used in 144 canals: 35 teeth with vital pulps (68 canals) and 42 teeth with necrotic pulps (76 canals). WL was measured with the NovApex® locator and confirmed using the radiographic method. Differences between electronic and radiographic measurements ranging between 0.0 and 0.4 millimeters were classified as acceptable; differences equal to or greater than 0.5 millimeter were considered unacceptable. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess the influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of NovApex®(a = 0.05). Regardless of pulp condition, differences between electronic and radiographic WL measurements were acceptable in 73.61% of the canals. No statistically significant differences in accuracy were observed when comparing vital and necrotic canals (p > 0.05). There were 38 unacceptable measurements. In none of these cases was the file tip located beyond the radiographic apex; in 32, it was located short of the NovApex® measurement. Pulp condition had no significant effect on the accuracy of NovApex®.