ABSTRACT
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: Obtaining a correct working length is necessary for successful root canal treatment. The aim of this study was to compare conventional and digital radiography in measuring root canal working length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study 20 mesio buccal canal from maxillary first molars with moderate and severe curvature and 20 canal form anterior teeth with mild curvature were chosen and their working length were measured with number 15 k file (Maillefer, DENTSPLY, Germany). Then for each canal five radiographies were taken, three conventional radiographies using three methods of processing: Manual, automatic, and monobath solution; in addition to two other digital radiographies using CCD and PSP receptors. Two independent observers measured working length in each technique. Finally, the mean of working length in each group was compared with real working length using a paired T-test. Also a one-way ANOVA test was used for comparing the two groups. The level of statistical significance was P < 0.05. RESULTS: The results have shown that there was a high interobserver agreement on the measurements of the working length in conventional and digital radiography (P ≤ 0.001). Also there was no significant difference between conventional and digital radiography in measuring working length (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Therefore it was concluded that the accuracy of digital radiography is comparable with conventional radiography in measuring working length, so considering the advantages of the digital radiography, it can be used for working length determination.
Subject(s)
Dental Pulp Cavity/diagnostic imaging , Odontometry/methods , Radiography, Dental, Digital/methods , Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging , Cuspid/anatomy & histology , Cuspid/diagnostic imaging , Dental Pulp Cavity/anatomy & histology , Humans , Incisor/anatomy & histology , Incisor/diagnostic imaging , Maxilla/diagnostic imaging , Molar/anatomy & histology , Molar/diagnostic imaging , Root Canal Preparation/instrumentation , Root Canal Preparation/methods , Tooth Apex/anatomy & histology , X-Ray FilmABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Obtaining the proper working length in endodontic treatment is essential. The aim of this study was to compare the working length (WL) assessment of small diameter K-files using the two different digital imaging methods. METHODOLOGY: The samples for this in-vitro experimental study consisted of 40 extracted single-rooted premolars. After access cavity preparation, the ISO files no. 6, 8, and 10 stainless steel K-files were inserted in the canals in the three different lengths to evaluate the results in a blinded manner: At the level of apical foramen(actual)1 mm short of apical foramen2 mm short of apical foramen A digital caliper was used to measure the length of the files which was considered as the Gold Standard. Five observers (two oral and maxillofacial radiologists and three endodontists) observed the digital radiographs which were obtained using PSP and CCD digital imaging sensors. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 17 and Repeated Measures Paired T-test. RESULTS: In WL assessment of small diameter K-files, a significant statistical relationship was seen among the observers of two digital imaging techniques (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two digital techniques in WL assessment of small diameter K-files (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PSP and CCD digital imaging techniques were similar in WL assessment of canals using no. 6, 8, and 10 K-files.
