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

Abstract

Influence of pulp condition on the accuracy of an electronic foramen locator in posterior teeth: an in vivo study Abstract: 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  (α = 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  .

A comparative evaluation of two working length determination methods

“…Manufacturers claim that the combination of using only one frequency at a time and basing measurements on the root mean square values of the signals increases the measurement reliability and the accuracy of the device (25). Previous studies (15,28), reported no significant differences between the two methods, corroborating our findings. Previous studies (15,28), reported no significant differences between the two methods, corroborating our findings.…”

“…In terms of pulp diagnosis, our study does not exhibit differences amongst the test groups tested, as it happens with the majority of studies where both methods provide reliable measurements not affected by the initial condition of the pulp (15,28,(36)(37)(38).…”