Accuracy and stability of electronic apex locator length measurements in root canals with wide apical foramen: an ex vivo study

Can ultrasonography be used to determine working length in endodontic treatment? An in vitro study

This study was conducted to evaluate efficacy of ultrasonography (USG) in determining working length in in-vitro conditions. Twenty five access cavities of maxillary incisor teeth were opened and actual working lengths (AWL) were measured with dental operating microscope. The working length were then measured with an electronic apex locator and USG. USG and apex locator measurements were statistically analyzed using one sample t-test and compared with AWL. The mean AWL measurment was 20.68 mm. USG measured the working length slightly longer (21.09 mm) than the measurements of apex locator (20.64 mm). Statistical analysis showed that the USG method provided similar measurements to electronic apex locators and with no statistical difference with actual working length (P < .05). USG emerges as a promising method for working length measurement that allows simultaneous visualization of root tip anatomy in cases where electronic apex locators may be insufficient and there is buccal cortical bone loss.

Internal morphology of distal roots of mandibular first molars revealed by computed microtomography

To evaluate the internal morphology of 100 distal roots of mandibular first molars using micro-CT. Teeth were scanned to characterise: Vertucci type, root length, canal shape, presence and location of accessory canals, and the number of foramina at 4 mm from the apex, presence of root isthmus and the length from the primary canal to the apical foramen. Vertucci type I was found in 57% of cases, followed by V (27%). The most common cross-section 1 mm from the apex was oval (49%) and circular (38%). The average root length was 16.06 mm (16.61-19.02 mm). The mean foramen size was 0.32 and 0.53 mm for the minor and major diameters, respectively. The volume, surface area and SMI were 7.84 mm3 , 68.87 mm2 and 1.52 mm, respectively. Root isthmi were found in 47% of the samples, and the length mean from the primary canal to the apical foramen was 2,03 mm. The internal morphology of the distal roots of mandibular first molars may be complex and shows variations.

An effective artificial testing model to reliability experiments for electronic apex locator devices used in endodontic practice

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This experimental study aimed to investigate the reliability of using electronic apex locator devices to determine the working length of artificial root canals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiments were performed using resin endoblocks and mandibular canine teeth (n = 20/group). After the same working length of root canal samples was provided, the teeth and artificial root canals were embedded in an alginate mold. The measurements with Root ZX® and Propex Pixi® apex locators were performed and recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (SPSS V23; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA) and the variance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups; mean distance from the actual working length using different apex locators (P = 0.633, P = 0.474), and endpoint positioning distributions (P = 0.591).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the artificial model could be a laboratory method of determining the accuracy of apex locators and efficient calibration of devices before their clinical use.

BDJ Open (2019-2020) and the advantages of open access publishing

BDJ Open is the open access sister journal to the British Dental Journal, and this paper aims to explore the various different articles that BDJ Open has published between 2019 and 2020, in order to highlight which areas authors felt were important to publish open access. Furthermore, this article will investigate the advantages of open access publishing to both authors and readers, as well as the scientific community in general, and will examine how open access publishing has allowed the BDJ Portfolio to publish a wide range of research, both in terms of topic and geography.

Examines papers published in BDJ Open between 2019 and 2020 to highlight which areas researchers felt were important to publish open access.

Discusses the advantages of open access publishing to authors, readers and the scientific community.

Explores how open access publishing has allowed the BDJ Portfolio to publish a far wider range of research both geographically and subject-wise.