A survey on working length determination of endodontic treatment

Ahn,  Hye-ra; Seo,  Min-Seock

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 55(1); 2017 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2017;55(1):42-52.
Published online January 31, 2017.

근관치료의 근관장 측정에 관한 연구: 근관치료학 전공 교수 설문

안혜라¹, 서민석²

^¹원광대학교 치과대학 치과보존학교실
^²원광대학교 치과대학 치과보존학교실

A survey on working length determination of endodontic treatment

Hye-ra Ahn¹, Min-Seock Seo²

¹Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University
²Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preferred method of root canal length determination and the apical limit for canal instrumentation among endodontic teachers of dental school. A questionnaire on the preferred method of root canal length determination and the apical limit for canal instrumentation was designed and distributed to endodontic teachers of various dental schools. The response rate was 90%. The most preferred method of root canal length determination was Electronic apex locator (EAL)(89%). The most favoured apical limit for canal instrumentation was 0.5 to 1.0 mm short of the radiographic apex(78%). The most preferred method of using EAL was that the working length is taken at 'APEX' mark and then distracted 0.5mm from that length.(41%). When there is no agreement between radiographic measurement and EAL measurement, 74% of respondents chose the length of EAL measurement. The majority of endodontic teachers from Korean dental schools preferred EAL to radiograph method in determining root canal length.

Key Words: Apical limit;Electronic apex locator;Root canal;Working length;