Abstract

ANELE, Juliana Aguiar et al. Ex vivo analysis of the influence of cervical preparation in determining the working length by three different apex electronic locators. RSBO (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.2, pp. 139-145. ISSN 1984-5685.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, a new generation of electronic apex locators (EALs) started to use alternating current at low frequencies, where the effect of polarization potential of the electrode is avoided, giving more precision to the measured values. OBJETIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate ex vivo the influence of the preparation of the cervical third in the effectiveness of three apex locators when compared to the radiographic examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 mandibular premolars with single straight canals were used. At first the specimens had the working length established at 1 mm from the apex through the visual method. Then teeth were submitted to the radiographic method and to the Root ZX, Root ZX II and Novapex apex locators, thereby setting data in the control group, radiographic and apex locators. The measurement was performed before and after the preparation of the cervical third, with the SX instrument of the Protaper system. RESULTS: After obtained, data was submitted to statistical analysis, and no statistically significant difference was found between the experimental groups studied. CONCLUSION: The apex locators studied proved to be accurate to perform the root canal measuring during endodontic therapy.

Keywords : apex locators; odontometry; cervical preparation.