Root canal length determination by different methods in primary teeth: an in vivo study

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Imaging

Background:

• Accurate determination of root canal length (RCL) is crucial for successful endodontic treatment in primary teeth.
• Physiological root resorption (PRR) can complicate RCL assessment in primary teeth.
• Various clinical methods exist for RCL assessment, but their accuracy in primary teeth with PRR is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of different clinical methods for determining root canal lengths (RCLs) in primary teeth.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these methods in the presence of varying degrees of physiological root resorption (PRR).

Main Methods:

• Seventy extracted primary single-rooted teeth were assessed in vivo using electronic apex locator (EAL), radiovisiography (RVG), conventional radiography (X-ray), and tactile sensation method (TSM).
• Teeth were categorized into three groups based on the extent of PRR: no PRR (G1), one-fourth apical PRR (G2), and one-fourth to three-fourths lingual PRR (G3).
• In vivo measurements were compared against ex vivo actual root canal length (ARCL) determined by stereo-microscope.

Main Results:

• In teeth without or with minimal PRR (G1 & G2), the EAL showed the highest accuracy, followed by RVG, X-ray, and TSM when compared to ARCL.
• In teeth with significant PRR (G3), EAL remained the most accurate, followed by TSM, RVG, and X-ray.
• The fifth-generation EAL demonstrated superior performance across different PRR stages.

Conclusions:

• A fifth-generation electronic apex locator is a valuable tool for accurately measuring root canal lengths in primary teeth.
• The EAL provides reliable measurements irrespective of the presence or extent of physiological root resorption.
• EAL offers a more accurate alternative to radiographic and tactile methods for primary tooth endodontics.