Working length determination of root canal in permanent single rooted tooth: An in vitro comparative study

Background: An accurate and a reproducible working length is an important factor in root canal treatment (RCT). The success rate of conventional RCT has been correlated with the length of the final root canal filling. There are various methods of determining the working length. The determination of correct working length is one of the keys to success in endodontic therapy. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the working length determination done using three methods, namely, radiovisiography (Kodak RVG 5100) and conventional radiography (Satelac, Acteon X-mind), apex locator (Root ZX mini, MORITA). Methodology: In this research, to determine the working length, 40 single-rooted teeth (mandibular first premolars) were selected and each tooth was subjected to all the three methods of the working length determination. This was compared with the actual working length measured utilizing ground sections of the individual teeth. Results: The results revealed that all the three methods located the apex nearly as accurately as the actual root canal length obtained by histological ground sectioning, and among three methods apex locator being the closest to the actual root canal length. Conclusion: The study concludes that all the three techniques are equally effective in determining working length.