Evaluation of the accuracy of electronic apex locators Dentaport ZX and Ray Pex 4 under clinical conditions

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the accuracy of working endodontic length determination by Dentaport ZX and Ray Pex 4 under clinical conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical comparative evaluation of the accuracy of two electronic apex locators, Dentaport ZX and Ray-Pex 4, was carried out in 80 single-rooted teeth with vital pulp tissue planned for extraction as part of the dental treatment and after patient consent had been obtained. The normal procedure was followed, which included anesthesia, a standard endodontic access cavity, pulp removal and irrigation of the root canal with 5.25% NaOCl. The working length was estimated with Dentaport ZX for half of the selected teeth and with Ray-Pex 4 for the other half. K-files #15 were cemented at the measured working length and the teeth were extracted. The apical foramen was examined with a stereomicroscope under x15 magnification. The micrometric system of the microscope allowed precise measurement of distances. RESULTS: The comparison of the estimated working length with the actual length revealed that Dentaport ZX localized the apical foramen in 95% of the cases and the Ray Pex 4 in 92.5% with a clinically acceptable accuracy of +/- 0.5 mm. Dentaport ZX detected the foramen in 97.5% and Ray Pex 4 in 95% of the cases with an accuracy of +/- 1 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between the accuracy of the two electronic apex locators in locating the apical foramen (p < 0.05).