Electronic Apex Locators

Success or failure of endodontic treatment depends, among other parameters, on an accurate determination of the working length. Electronic apex locators (EALs) are a routinely used procedure in endodontic practice; yet their accuracy has been reported to vary from 35% to 100%. The operating systems of the EALs (frequency or impedance quotient) and different investigative methodologies explain the higher accuracy obtained with the current generation of devices. It is difficult to draw conclusions on the basis of the results obtained with the new generation EALs because of research variables that can influence the results.

[1]  L. E. Custer.  Exact Method of Locating the Apical Foramen , 1918, The Dental register.

[2]  C. Splieth,et al.  Comparison of measurements obtained with hand files or the Canal Leader attached to electronic apex locators: an in vitro study. , 1999, International endodontic journal.

[3]  B G Tidmarsh,et al.  Establishing endodontic working length: a comparison of radiographic and electronic methods. , 1985, The New Zealand dental journal.

[4]  N Inoue.  Dental "stethoscope" measures root canal. , 1972, Dental survey.

[5]  M Azabal,et al.  Accuracy of the Justy II Apex locator in determining working length in simulated horizontal and vertical fractures. , 2004, International endodontic journal.

[6]  Z. Fuss,et al.  Reliability of different electronic apex locators to detect root perforations in vitro. , 1997, International endodontic journal.

[7]  T. Saito,et al.  Electronic determination of root canal length by newly developed measuring device. Influences of the diameter of apical foramen, the size of K-file and the root canal irrigants. , 1990, Dentistry in Japan.

[8]  I. Sunada.  New Method for Measuring the Length of the Root Canal , 1962 .

[9]  C Kobayashi,et al.  Electronic canal length measurement. , 1995, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics.

[10]  A F Fouad,et al.  Effect of using electronic apex locators on selected endodontic treatment parameters. , 2000, Journal of endodontics.

[11]  A L Frank,et al.  An in vivo evaluation of Endex electronic apex locator. , 1993, Journal of endodontics.

[12]  B S Chong,et al.  Apex locators in endodontics: which, when and how? , 1994, Dental update.

[13]  H Suda,et al.  New electronic canal measuring device based on the ratio method. , 1994, Journal of endodontics.

[14]  A. Kaufman,et al.  Accuracy of a new apex locator: an in vitro study. , 2002, International endodontic journal.

[15]  Y. Nahmias,et al.  Expanded use of the electronic canal length measuring devices. , 1983, Journal of endodontics.

[16]  Z. Fuss,et al.  Determination of location of root perforations by electronic apex locators. , 1996, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics.