Efficacy of apex locators in identification of different diameters perforations

Abstract

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy of eletronic apex locators (EAL) Novapex and Root ZX II in detecting simulated root perforations. After removing the coronal portion in 35 teeth, artificial perforations were simulated in the middle third with different diameters drills (01, 04, 08). The teeth were then divided into 4 groups: 3 experimental groups with 10 teeth and the control group with 5 teeth. The teeth were embedded in a 0.9% saline solution and electronic determination of the perforations length was carried out using the EALs. A 10 K-type file was inserted down the canals until EALs indicated that the file had reached the mark 0 and the cursors were adjusted in an external reference. Three measurements were taken to each tooth and an average recorded. Results show that larger perforation diameter increased the EAL sensitivity. For comparison of real and EAL measures, when the EAL could locate the perforation, the student t test was applied (p<0.05), showing no statistically difference between the different perforations and EALs. Therefore, the tested EAL was accurate and reliable in the determination of root perforations, and are able to assist the clinical diagnosis of this pathology.