• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preferred method of root canal length determination and the apical limit for canal instrumentation among endodontic teachers of dental school. A questionnaire on the preferred method of root canal length determination and the apical limit for canal instrumentation was designed and distributed to endodontic teachers of various dental schools. The response rate was 90%. The most preferred method of root canal length determination was Electronic apex locator (EAL)(89%). The most favoured apical limit for canal instrumentation was 0.5 to 1.0 mm short of the radiographic apex(78%). The most preferred method of using EAL was that the working length is taken at 'APEX' mark and then distracted 0.5mm from that length.(41%). When there is no agreement between radiographic measurement and EAL measurement, 74% of respondents chose the length of EAL measurement. The majority of endodontic teachers from Korean dental schools preferred EAL to radiograph method in determining root canal length.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.289-299
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• 1996

It is necessary to measure the length of a root canal in order to attain a satisfactory prognosis after root canal therapy. There are several methods for determining root canal length, such as tactile sensation by the dental practitioner, the utilization of x-ray film, and electronic root canal measurement. Among these, the electrical measurement methods, in which the impedence between the oral mucous membrane and periodontal membrane is determined, have advantages of simplicity and accuracy. During root canal treatment, the root canal contains a solution of high electrical conductivity such as pus, blood, sodium hypochlorite and so on. Recently a new electronic root canal measurement device of frequency-dependent type has been developed, which is capable of measuring the length of root canal under moist conditions. Endex and Root ZX, which are frequency-dependent type, were evaluated for accuracy of measuring root canal length in vivo by stereomicroscope. The result were as follows ; 1. 82.5% of Endex and 87.5% of Root ZX measured in the range of ${\pm}0.5$ mm from the apical foramen and both showed 57.5 % in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. 2. Endex showed significantly higher accuracy in vital teeth than nonvital teeth(p<0.05). But in case of Root ZX, there was no significant difference between vital and nonvital teeth. 3. As a result of this study, there was no significant difference in accuracy between Endex and Root ZX, and both devices showed file passes the apical foramen in more than half of the cases, and it is thought that this must be considered clinically.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.471-489
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• 1998

For the successful endodontic treatment, root canal should be cleaned thoroughly by accurate mechanical and chemical canal preparation and sealed completely with canal filling material without damaging the periapical tissues. The accuracy of the root canal length measurement is a prerequisite for the success of the endodontic treatment, and the root canal length is often determined by the standard periapical radiographs and digital tactile sense. In this study, the accuracy and the clinical usefulness of Digora/sup (R)/, an intraoral digital imaging processor and the conventional standard radiographs were compared by measuring the length from the top of the file to the root apex. 30 single rooted premolars were invested in a uniformly sized blocks and No.25 K-file was inserted into and fixed in each canal. Each block was placed in equal distance and position to satisfy the principle of the bisecting angle and paralleling techniques and Digora/sup (R)/ system's image and standard periapical radiographs were taken. Each radiograph was examined by 3 different observers by measuring the length from top of the file to the root apex and each data was compared and analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. In the bisecting angle technique, the average difference between the Digora/sup (R)/ system and standard periapical radiograph was 0.002 mm and the standard deviation was 0.341 mm which showed no statistically significant difference between the two systems(p>0.05). Also, in the paralleling technique, the average difference between these two system was 0.007 mm and the standard deviation was 0.323 mm which showed no statistically significant difference between the two systems(p>0.05). 2. In Digora/sup (R)/ system, the average difference between the bisecting angle and paralleling technique was -0.336 mm and the standard deviation was 0.472 mm which showed a statistically significant difference between the two techniques(p<0.05). Also, in the standard periapical radiographs, the average difference between the bisecting angle and paralleling technique was 0.328 mm and the standard deviation was 0.517 mm which showed a statistically significant difference between these two techniques(p<0.05). 3. In Digora/sup (R)/ system and the standard periapical radiographs. there was a statistically significant difference between the measurement using the bisecting angle technique and the actual length(p<0.05), But there was no statistically significant difference between the measurement using the paralleling technique and the actuallength(p>0.05). In conclusion. the determination of the root canal length by using the Digora/sup (R)/ system can give us as good an image as the standard periapical radiograph and using the paralleling technique instead of the bisecting angle technique can give a measurement closer to the actual canal length. thereby contributing to a successful result. Also. considering the advantages of the digital imaging processor such as decreasing the amount of exposure to the patient. immediate use of the image. magnification of image size. control of the contrast and brightness and the ability of storing the image can give us good reason to replace the standard periapical radiographs.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.399-402
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• 1997

It is important to find a accurate root canal length or successful endodontic therapy. By X-ray method takes a long time and difficult in a curved canal. After developed electronic apex locator has allowed to measure the root canal length with easy, in a short time also in a curved canal. But most electronic apex locators have the disadvantage which is too short reading or sometimes the measurement itself becomes impossible if there are electrolytes in the canal. To overcome this drawback, impedance ratio method has been developed. In this study, we have developed frequency dependent electronic apex locator to minimize the interference of electrolytes. And based on that also some error in clinic use, we added the other method. Difference of two signals which are used in calculation of impedance ratio was can be represent the status of root canal fluid. As a result, using impedance ratio method and auto-calibration by voltage difference method can reduce the measurement error.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.477-486
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• 1998

Recently the development of rotary instrument makes it possible that in root canal treatment operator saves much more time, maintans original curved canal shape and easily prepares continuous tapered root canal. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the smoothness of the internal surface of prepared root canal and the effectiveness of debridement in prepared root canal by SEM for the comparison of hand and Ni-Ti rotary instrument. 25 extracted human teeth were access opened and # 10 K-type file was introduced into canal until it was appeared at the apical foramen. The working length was established by subtracting 0.5mm from this measurement. Group 1. The root canal preparation was done to # 30 with working length and then step-back until # 45 with K-Flexofile (Maillefer, Swiss). Group 2. Root canal preparation was done by Naviflex Ni-Ti file (Brasseler, USA) as the same technique with group 1. Group 3. Canal was prepared by Profile .04 (Maillefer, Swiss) taper until #30. Group 4. With use of Quantec (Tycom, USA) root canal was prepared from file number 1 to 8. In group 1 and 2, the root canal irrigant was NaOCl and the other groups, NaOCl and RC-prep (Premine Dental Products, USA) was used. The prepared teeth were notched with high-speed bur as bucco-lingual direction and fractured with chisel and mallet, then examined with SEM. Group 1 showed smooth internal surface. There were scratches mainly to the axial direction. Group 2 showed similar characteristics to those in group 1. Group 3 showed more smoother and linear cutting surface with bised scratches. Group 4 has the almost same characteristics group 3 and there was no difference in the file design. Ni-Ti rotary root canal instrument prepare the dentinal wall more smoother than hand instrument. The effectiveness of debridement was not fully affected by file design. The isthmus area and accessory canals of the root canal system were not prepared in any group. According to the result, hand and rotary type instrumentation techniques were effective in removal of major amount of tissue from root canal but it was not complete. In the direction of cutting movement there was difference between them.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.371-377
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to assess the accuracy of measurements in pre-enlarged canals with small instruments and to compare the accuracies, in enlarged canal, with small size instruments and instruments that match the actual canal diameter using Root ZX, Bingo1020, SmarPex, and e-Magic Finder. Ten extracted teeth were embedded in an alginate model made for testing apex locators. A size 10 file was placed into the root canal until the tip of the file reached the plane of the major diameter of the foramen under a dental operating microscope at the 25 x magnification. The measurement was done with digital caliper and defined as actual length. Electronic length measurement with a size 10 file in pre-enlarged canal was done by reading the index indicating Apex of each device to gain a definite value After completion of canal enlargement to a size 45 file, each difference between actual length and electric measurement value with a size 10 and 40 files in enlarged canal was recorded as L10 and L40. The one-way ANOVA and Scheffe's multiple range tests were computed for analyze the differences among the four apex locators in the same group. The Student's t-test between L10 and L40 of each locator was done. The accuracies of electronic measurements were significantly different among the 4 devices. The file size made no difference on the accuracy of electronic measurement in enlarged canal with same device. The e-Magic Finder was the most accurate device among the 4 apex locators used in this study.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1981

One of the most important factors for successful endodontic therapy is an accurate length determination of physiological root apex. Some methods suggested for the measurement of root canal length, include digital-tactile sense and roentgenographic technique with measuring wire, scale and grid. But these methods do not derermine an accurate working length to physiological root apex. Recently electronic measuring devices are used to locate the physiological root apex in root canal length determination and these devices are accepted as an effective apparatus. The 89 patients (116 teeth, 144 canals) among the out-patients of Yonsei University Dental Infirmary, who had had an endodontic treatment in the Department of Operative Dentistry, were measured by the Root-Canal Meter$^{(R)}$ as an electronic device, and radiographs to determine the distribution and location of physiological root apex, then the following results were made: (1) Range of ${\pm}$1mm from the radiographic root apex were present in 88.88% (128 canals) of the subjects. (2) Physiological root apex and radiographic root apex were coincided in 31.94% (46 canals) of the subjects. (3) The actual length of the physiological root apex of the teeth were as follow; A : in the maxillary central incisor : 0.46mm B : in the maxillary lateral incisor : 0.44mm C : in the maxillary canine : 0.44mm D : in the maxillary 1st premolar : a) Buccal : 0.59mm b) Lingual : 0.34mm E : in the maxillary 2nd premolar : 0.54mm F : in the maxillary 1st molar : a) Mesio-buccal : 0.50mm b) Disto-buccal : 0.42mm c) Lingual : 0.56mm G : in the mandibular central incisor : 0.62mm H : in the mandibular lateral incisor : 0.45mm in the mandibular canine : 0.54mm J : in the mandibular 1st premolar : 0.47mm K : in the mandibular 2nd premolar : 0.34mm L : in the mandibular 1st molar : a) Mesio-buccal : 0.54mm b) Mesio-lingual : 0.31mm c) Distal : 0.37mm.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.339-345
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro accuracy of Root ZX(Morita Co., Japan) which is the ratio type electronic apex locator. The 86 extracted human palatal roots of maxillary molar with fully formed apices were used. File lengths with the file tip just visible at the foramen were compared to those measured with Root ZX. For length measuring with Root ZX, saline test model with which the apical 1/3 of each root was submerged into normal saline were designed. The root canal lengths were determined with Root ZX and the radiographs were taken with a file in the canal. The distances from file tips of Root ZX lengths to apecies in radiographs also were measured with Profile projector PJ311(Mitutoyo Co., Japan). The results were as follows : 1. The root canal length determined with electronic apex locator was $0.78{\pm}0.53mm$ shorter than the length with visual measurement. 2. The file tip of Root ZX lengths was located at $0.85{\pm}0.49mm$ away from the apex in radiograph. 3. The accuracy of the Root ZX was 79.1% within 0.5mm of visual working length and 96.5% within 1.0mm.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.477-485
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to compare the length between the mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual canal of the mandibular molars before and after early coronal flaring at the different measuring time using several electronic apex locators. Fifty mandibular molars with complete apical formation and patent foramens were selected. After establishing the initial working length of the buccal and lingual canal of the mesial root using a surgical microscope (Carl Zeiss Co Germany) at 25X with #15 K-fle tip just visible at the foramen, radiographs were taken for the working length. After measuring the length of mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual canal (control group), the electronic lengths were measured at different times using several electronic apex locators (experimental groups; I-Root ZX, II-Bingo, III-Propex, IV-Diagnostic). After early coronal flaring using the $K^3$ file, the additional electronic lengths were measured using the same manner The results were as follows: One canal has a correct working length for the mesial root of the mandibular molar, it can be used effectively for measuring the electronic working length of another canal when the files are superimposed or encountered at the apex. In addition, the accuracy of the electronic apex locators was increased as the measurement was accomplished after the early coronal flaring of the root canal and the measuring time was repeated.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.435-459
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• 1998

In order to achieve a successful endodontic treatment, root canals must be obturated three-dimensionally without causing any damage to apical tissues. Accurate length determination of the root canal is critical in this case. For this reason, I've used the conventional periapical radiography, Digora/sup (R)/(digital imaging system) and Root ZX/sup (R)/(the frequency dependent type apex locator) to measure the length of the canal and compare it with the true length obtained by cutting the tooth in half and measuring the length between the occlusal surface and the apical foramen. From the information obtained by these measurements, I was able to evaluate the accuracy and clinical usefulness of each systems. whether the thickness of files used in endodontic therapy has any effect on the measuring systems was also evaluated in an effort to simplify the treatment planning phase of endodontic treatment. 29 canals of 29 sound premolars were measured with #15, #20, #25 files by 3 different dentists each using the periapical radiography. Digora/sup (R)/ and Root ZX/sup (R)/. The measurements were then compared with the true length. The results were as follows: 1. In comparing mean discrepancies between measurements obtained by using periapical radiography(mean error: -0.449±0.444 mm), Digora/sup (R)/(mean error: -0.417±0.415 mm) and Root ZX/sup (R)/(mean error: 0.123±0.458 mm) with true length. periapical radiography and Digora/sup (R)/ system had statistically significant differences(p<0.05) in most cases while Root ZX/sup (R)/ showed none(p>0.05). 2. By subtracting values obtained by using periapical radiography, Digora/sup (R)/ and Root ZX/sup (R)/ from the true length and making a distribution table of their absolute values. the following analysis was possible. In the case of periapical film. 140 out of 261<53.6％) were clinically acceptable satisfying the margin of error of less than 0.5 mm. 151 out of 261 (53,6％) were acceptable in the Digora/sup (R)/ system while Root ZX/sup (R)/ had 197 out of 261(75.5％) within the limits of 0.5mm margin of error. 3. In determining whether the thickness of files has any effect on measuring methoths, no statistically significant differences were found(p>0.05). 4. In comparing data obtained from these methods in order to evaluate the difference among measuring methods, there was no statistically significant difference between periapical radiography and Digora/sup (R)/ system(p>0.05), but there was statistically significant difference between Root ZX/sup (R)/ and periapical radiography(p<0.05). Also there was statistically significant difference between Root ZX/sup (R)/ and Digora/sup (R)/ system(p<0.05). In conclusion, Root ZX/sup (R)/ was more accurate when compared with the Digora/sup (R)/ system and periapical radiography and seems to be more effective clinically in determining root canal length. But Root ZX/sup (R)/ has its limits in determining root morphology and number of roots and its accuracy becomes questionable when apical foramen is open due to unknown reasons. Therefore the combined use of Root ZX/sup (R)/ and the periapical radiography are mandatory. Digora/sup (R)/ system seems to be more effective when periapical radiographs are needed in a short period of time because of its short processing time and less exposure.