Evaluation of Interference of Cellular Phones on Electronic Apex Locators: An In Vitro Study

Can active signals of cellphone interfere with electronic working length determination of a root canal in a dental clinic? An in vivo study

Objective:

To evaluate the interference of active cellphones during electronic working length (EWL) determination of a root canal.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty patients requiring root canal treatment in the anterior teeth or premolars having single canal and mature apices were selected for this study. Working length determination was done using no. 15 K-file. Electronic apex locators ProPex Pixi and Root ZX mini were used for working length determination. Cellphones iPhone 6s and Xolo Q3000 were evaluated for their interference. The experiment was conducted in a closed room (9 feet × 9 feet). Working length was measured with no cellphone in the room, iPhone 6s in a calling mode, Xolo Q3000 in a calling mode, and Xolo Q3000 and iPhone 6s simultaneously in a calling mode. Stability of the readings was also determined for every condition.

Statistical Analysis:

The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and paired t-test at 0.05 level of significance.

Results:

Results were not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Within the limitations of the present study, cellphones do not interfere with the EWL determination.

The Influence of Various Irrigants on the Accuracy of 2 Electronic Apex Locators in Locating Simulated Root Perforations

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the Dentaport ZX (Morita Co, Kyoto, Japan) and the Rootor (Meta Biomed, Cheongwon-gun, Korea) electronic apex locators (EALs) in detecting root perforations in dry conditions and in the presence of the following irrigation solutions: 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 0.9% saline solution (NaCl), and 17% EDTA.

METHODS

Twenty extracted, single-rooted human teeth were perforated artificially in the middle section. The actual canal lengths (ALs) up to the perforation site were determined, and then the teeth were embedded in an alginate mold. The electronic measurements of the perforations were obtained using a size 20 K-file by each EAL in various conditions. For each tooth, the AL was subtracted from the electronic length of the perforation. Statistical analyses were performed using the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed rank tests at a significance level of P < .05.

RESULTS

The most accurate measurements for both EALs were obtained in dry conditions. Among the irrigation solutions in the Dentaport ZX group, EDTA gave the most accurate results, and NaOCl gave the least accurate ones. However, measurements with NaCl were closer to the AL than those obtained with EDTA for the Rootor group. Significant differences were noted among the EALs when the measurements were taken with NaOCl, NaCl, and EDTA (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Dentaport ZX was more accurate compared with the Rootor in the presence of different irrigants. The content of the root canal affected the accuracy of both EALs. The most accurate measurements were obtained in dry canals.