Clinical reproducibility of a low cost electronic apex locator

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the clinical reproducibility of three electronic apex locators (EALs), Joypex 5,RomiApex A-15 and Novapex. Methods: Twenty-five patients requiring endodontic treatmentwere selected. Sixty root canals were measured by the three EALs to determine their respectiveworking length, which was defined as a zero reading on the EAL. A new K-file of the same sizewas used for each measurement. The file length was fixed with a rubber stop and measured witha caliper to an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Data were analyzed statistically using paired t-tests with theBonferroni correction and Bland-Altman plot to determine the reproducibility of clinical dataamong the EALs. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: Mean and standard deviationvalues measured by the three EALs showed no statistically significant differences. Identicalreadings by all three EALs were found in 38% of root canals. Fifty percent differed by less than± 1.0 mm and only 1.3% exceeded a difference of 2.0 mm. Conclusions: The clinicalreproducibility of the three devices was confirmed with no significant differences among them,indicating that they are effective for clinical use.