Effectiveness of Two Apex Locators to Determine Simulated Horizontal Root Fractures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effectiveness of the two different electronic apex locators (Dentaport ZX and Rootor-EALs) in locating simulated horizontal root fractures. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted human single-rooted teeth with mature apices were randomly divided into two groups of 20 teeth each. An incomplete horizontal fracture was simulated by preparing a with a 0.25 mm thick disk in the middle and apical portion of the root and the teeth were mounted in an alginate mold. The electronic measurements (ELs) of the simulated root fractures were established with a size 10 K-file by each EAL in both fracture levels. The actual canal lenghts (ALs) were measured under a stereomicroscope. The ALs were subtracted from the ELs of the fractures. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U and the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at a significance level of P < .05. Results: The mean differences between the ELs and ALs were-0.12 ± 0.27; 0.09 ± 0.38;-0.10 ± 0.25; 0.18 ± 0.53 mm in the Dentaport ZX and Rootor groups and middle and apical horizontal fracture levels, respectively. The Dentaport ZX performed measurements within ±0.5 mm in 18 and in 19 samples while the Rootor performed in 12 and in 11 samples, middle and apical horizontal fracture levels respectively. Statistically, significant differences were found among the EALs at both horizontal fracture levels (P < .05). However; no statistically significant differences were found between the fracture levels in each of the EALs (P > .05). Conclusions: The Dentaport ZX measurements were shorter than ALs whereas the Rootor measurements were longer than Als. Furthermore, the number of measurements obtained within ± 0.5 mm in Dentaport ZX is more than that of Rootor. Under the conditions of this study, the Dentaport ZX group showed an acceptable determination of the horizontal root fracture.