Evaluation of accuracy of an electric device (Neosono D-SE) for the measurement of tooth length

Abstract

The study was conducted on 92 root canals selected from teeth advised for extraction to evaluate the efficacy of an electronic device (NEOSONO D-SE), Ingles method and Digital Tactile method for the measurement of working length of tooth. In 30% of anterior teeth and 30% of posterior teeth the electronic device was able to locate exact position of apical constriction of tooth, as measured after the extraction of the tooth. In 37% of anterior teeth and 13% of posterior teeth, the apical constriction was located exactly when digital tactile method was used. When Ingle's method for determining the working length was used it was successful in 30% of anterior teeth and 42% of posterior teeth. The study was also conducted to know the distance between apex of the tooth to apical foramen and distance between apical foramen and apical constriction. The findings of the study showed that the average distance between apex and apical foramen was 0.215mm and 0.289 mm in anterior and posterior teeth respectively. Whereas the distance between apical foramen and apical constriction was 0.610 mm and 0.504 mm in anterior and posterior teeth respectively.