A STUDY ON THE ACCURACY OF THE ROOT-ZX ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS CONDITIONS OF ROOT CANALS

근관내 여러 가지 조건에 따른 Root-ZX의 정확도에 관한 연구

Currently frequency-dependent type electronic apex locators have been widely used to determine the working length in endodontic treatment. But, accuracy of electronic apex locators is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Root-ZX(Morita Co., Japan) at different kinds of conditions of root canals compared with the radiographic working length. The 40 extracted human anterior teeth with fully formed apices and without any caries were used. The radiographs were taken for working length with the 0.5mm short of #15 K-file tip just visible at the foramen under the surgical microscope(Carl Zeiss Co. Germany) at 25X. Then the electronic working lengths were determined with Root-ZX at the different kinds of conditions of root canals according to the presence of electrolyte and Crown-down pressureless technique. The results were as follows ; 1. There was no significant statistical difference in working length between radiograph and Root-ZX. 2. There was no significant statistical difference in electronic working length between the canal with electrolyte and without electrolyte. 3. There was no significant statistical difference in electronic working length between the canal without any instrumentation and after Crown-dow pressureless technique. 4. Of the total 40 root canals, 85% in Group I, 92.5% in Group II, 95% in Group III and 95% in Group IV using Root-ZX showed coincidence within 0.5mm accuracy compaing with the radiographic working length. The results showed that the Root-ZX can be use effectively for measuring the working length of root canal after instrumentation with Crown-down pressureless technique regardless of the presence of electrolyte in root canal.