An in vitro comparison of five root canal length measuring instruments

Several new root canal length measuring instruments (RCLMI) have recently been introduced claiming superiority over older systems. The purpose of this study was to compare five models of these instruments with respect to their accuracy under a given set of specified conditions. The five RCLMI tested were: the, Exact-a-pex, the Endocater, the Neosono-D, the Apex Finder, and the Sono-Explorer, Mark III. The conditions tested were the accuracy of the instruments in determining the working length, the consistency of measurement following canal instrumentation and with conductive gutta-percha points in place, and the operation of the RCLMI in the presence of fluids frequently found in root canals during endodontic treatment. An in vitro model was used to test these instruments. A set of 20 teeth was tested using the conditions specified above. All data were compared using the mean difference from the actual canal length of the teeth. The results indicated that there were no significant differences among measurements derived from the five instruments, under the specified conditions. There was a slight variation of the measurements by all instruments when they were used following instrumentation and with the use of conductive gutta-percha points. When fluids were present in the canals, the reliability of the RCLMI depended on the electrical conductivity of the fluid tested. The poorest results were obtained when either sodium hypochlorite or blood were present in the canals.