Efficiency of 2 electronic apex locators on working length determination: A clinical study

AIMS: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the clinical accuracy of two electronic apex locators (EALs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with 283 roots were randomized into three groups including, traditional radiographic method, EAL (Root ZX mini), and apex locating endodontic motor (VDW Gold) for working length (WL) determination. Root canals were instrumented to a size ProTaper F3 nickel titanium file. The obturation quality of matched tapered master cone (ProTaper F3) was determined for the accuracy of WL. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics were expressed as numbers and percentages. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine for differences between groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the three tested groups (P = 0.894). CONCLUSIONS: The success of both apex locators was similar to the radiographic WL determination technique.