1Professor and Head, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India
2Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India
3Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India
4Post Graduate Student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India
5Senior Lecturer, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India
*Corresponding Author: Tejnoor Kaur, Post graduate student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Derabassi, Punjab, India, Email: drtejnoork@gmail.com
Online published on 31 January, 2025.
Smile designing using orthodontics has gained popularity. However, orthodontic components like brackets and wires increase the predilection towards endodontic concerns. In root canal therapy, determination of working length accurately prior to instrumentation plays a major role. One of the methods of determining working length is electronic apex locator. However, the effectiveness of apex locators is said to be hampered by presence of irrigants, saliva, and metal.
To evaluate the accuracy of apex locator in the presence of orthodontic brackets.
30 human extracted mandibular incisors taken and access openings made, actual working length determined visually by inserting a file till apex. The samples further equally divided into 2 groups. One group had an orthodontic bracket placed and the other group non-bracketed. Each tooth then embedded into alginate moulds, and lip clip embedded into the alginate at: 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2cm, 2.5 cm and 3 cm from sample tooth. Then, electronic working length measurements taken using electronic apex locator and the data tabulated.
ANOVA, including Post Hoc Tukey HSD test, done using a SPSS software.
The Bracketed group showed a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.05) at 1 cm and 1.5 cm distance between the lip clip and the tooth sample. Conclusion: In the present study setting, it can be concluded that close proximity of metal brackets to the lip clip of apex locator may lead to inconsistent working length measurements.
Working length, Orthodontic brackets, Root ZX, Electronic apex locator
