PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Traditionally, radiographs were used to assess the working length of root canals. However, the use of Electronic Apex Locators (EAL) may be a non-invasive alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the electronic apex locator (EAL) compared to radiographic measurements in determining the working length of root canals.
METHODS: The study assessed the performance of EALs in different scenarios, including the presence of blood and pulp tissue, the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant, and post-instrumentation with normal saline. An electronic apex locator (DTE DPEX-V; Woodpecker, China) was used alongside traditional radiographs to measure the working length in 144 root canal treatments. Bland-Altman analysis was used to compare the measurements between EAL and radiographs using Jamovi software, v2.4.8 (https://www.jamovi.org/).
RESULTS: The findings revealed strong correlations between EAL and radiographic measurements across all testing environments, with Pearson\'s correlation coefficients ranging from 0.944 to 0.998. The Bland-Altman analysis suggests bias; the average difference was negative and close to zero (Pulp: -0.354, EDTA: -0.0972, NaOCl: -0.0382, Saline: -0.0139) when EAL measurements were compared to radiographic measurements.
CONCLUSIONS: The working length measurement of root canals using an electronic apex locator such as DTE DPEX-V is comparable to traditional radiographic measurements. The use of irrigants improves the measurement. The EAL has the potential to be an alternative to the invasive radiograph for root canal length measurement.
METHODS: The study assessed the performance of EALs in different scenarios, including the presence of blood and pulp tissue, the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant, and post-instrumentation with normal saline. An electronic apex locator (DTE DPEX-V; Woodpecker, China) was used alongside traditional radiographs to measure the working length in 144 root canal treatments. Bland-Altman analysis was used to compare the measurements between EAL and radiographs using Jamovi software, v2.4.8 (https://www.jamovi.org/).
RESULTS: The findings revealed strong correlations between EAL and radiographic measurements across all testing environments, with Pearson\'s correlation coefficients ranging from 0.944 to 0.998. The Bland-Altman analysis suggests bias; the average difference was negative and close to zero (Pulp: -0.354, EDTA: -0.0972, NaOCl: -0.0382, Saline: -0.0139) when EAL measurements were compared to radiographic measurements.
CONCLUSIONS: The working length measurement of root canals using an electronic apex locator such as DTE DPEX-V is comparable to traditional radiographic measurements. The use of irrigants improves the measurement. The EAL has the potential to be an alternative to the invasive radiograph for root canal length measurement.
摘要：
背景：传统上，X射线照片用于评估根管的工作长度。然而,使用电子顶点定位器（EAL）可能是非侵入性的选择。这项研究旨在评估电子根尖定位器（EAL）与射线照相测量相比在确定根管工作长度方面的准确性。
方法：该研究评估了EAL在不同情况下的表现，包括血液和牙髓组织的存在，使用乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA），次氯酸钠（NaOCl）作为冲洗剂，和生理盐水后的仪器。电子顶点定位器(DTEDPEX-V；啄木鸟，中国）与传统的X光片一起用于测量144根管治疗中的工作长度。Bland-Altman分析用于比较EAL和使用Jamovi软件的射线照片之间的测量值。v2.4.8(https://www.jamovi.org/)。
结果：研究结果表明，在所有测试环境中，EAL和射线照相测量之间存在很强的相关性。皮尔逊相关系数在0.944到0.998之间。Bland-Altman分析表明存在偏差；当将EAL测量值与射线照相测量值进行比较时，平均差异为负，接近于零（纸浆：-0.354，EDTA：-0.0972，NaOCl：-0.0382，盐水：-0.0139）。
结论：使用诸如DTEDPEX-V之类的电子根尖定位器对根管的工作长度测量与传统的射线照相测量相当。灌溉剂的使用改善了测量。EAL有可能替代用于根管长度测量的侵入性X射线照片。
方法：该研究评估了EAL在不同情况下的表现，包括血液和牙髓组织的存在，使用乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA），次氯酸钠（NaOCl）作为冲洗剂，和生理盐水后的仪器。电子顶点定位器(DTEDPEX-V；啄木鸟，中国）与传统的X光片一起用于测量144根管治疗中的工作长度。Bland-Altman分析用于比较EAL和使用Jamovi软件的射线照片之间的测量值。v2.4.8(https://www.jamovi.org/)。
结果：研究结果表明，在所有测试环境中，EAL和射线照相测量之间存在很强的相关性。皮尔逊相关系数在0.944到0.998之间。Bland-Altman分析表明存在偏差；当将EAL测量值与射线照相测量值进行比较时，平均差异为负，接近于零（纸浆：-0.354，EDTA：-0.0972，NaOCl：-0.0382，盐水：-0.0139）。
结论：使用诸如DTEDPEX-V之类的电子根尖定位器对根管的工作长度测量与传统的射线照相测量相当。灌溉剂的使用改善了测量。EAL有可能替代用于根管长度测量的侵入性X射线照片。
