Comparison of the accuracy of apex locator root ZX and Meta in labroatory conditions in detecting similar perforations in different positions

Abstract

Objective: Root perforations are one of the main causes of endodontic treatment failure. Accurate determination of the perforation location is essential for the reconstruction of the root structure within the canal. Electronic apex locators are an efficient and reliable tool for the detection of perforations. They are widely used by dentists due to their higher accuracy than radiography and the reduction of the need for multiple radiographs during the procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the Root Zx apex locator compared to the Meta apex locator in detecting simulated root canal perforations in different locations.

Materials and methods: 50 single-canal teeth were included in the study. After disinfection and measurement of the initial canal length, the canals of all teeth were cleaned and shaped using rotary files up to size f2. Then, perforations of 1-1.5 mm were created in the middle third of the root canal (n=25) and the apical third of the root canal (n=25) using Gates Glidden drills. The working length to the perforation site in all teeth was measured first manually, then after mounting the specimens in alginate was measured with the Apex Locator Root ZX and Apex Locator Meta. SPSS version 22 software was used for data analysis. The significance level in all tests was considered to be less than 5%.

Results: Each apex locator performed 50 measurements to detect perforations. Also, 50 measurements were performed with the standard scale. The accuracy of the apex locators' measurements did not differ significantly between each other and the standard mode. The accuracy of the apex locators' measurements correlated very strongly with each other and with the standard scale. In all three methods, the mean/accuracy of the measurement of the middle third of the root canal was reported to be similar to the apical third. In general, the mean accuracy of the measurement in the middle third was not found to be higher than the apical third, so that the accuracy of the measurement in these two positions was statistically similar. According to the results of two-way analysis of variance, the accuracy of the apex locators' measurements did not differ significantly. Also, the interaction effect of the type of apex locator with the measurement position (depending on the position of the apex measured) was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The accuracy of the Root ZX and Meta apex locator measurements in detecting perforations is not statistically significantly different from each other, and both devices can be successfully used in detecting perforations.