Accuracy of electronic apex locator in enlarged root canals with different root canal irrigants: an in vitro study.

AIM To evaluate the accuracy of Root ZX-II (J Morita Corp) apex locator in enlarged root canals with different root canal irrigants. MATERIALS AND METHODS 48 freshly extracted single rooted mandibular premolar teeth were used. The apical enlargement was done up to #45 K-file as the master apical file (MAF). The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups and mounted in an experimental apparatus. The following irrigants were used during electronic canal measurements: group 1: saline; group 2: 3% NaOCl; group 3: 2% chlorhexidine; group 4: 17% EDTA. The canal measurement was done with Root ZX-II apex locator using #10 and #45 K-file. Data were analyzed by two way ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison test. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that there was statistically significant difference between #10 and #45 K-file for group 1 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Root ZX-II was accurate in the presence of 3% NaOCl and 17% EDTA when measured with smaller and larger files. However, it was accurate in the presence of saline and 2% CHX when larger files were used.