MyMedR

Efficacy of electronic apex locators in comparison with intraoral radiographs in working length determination- a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kaur G, Thomas AR, Samson RS, Varghese E, Ponraj RR, Nagraj SK, et al.

BMC Oral Health, 2024 May 04;24(1):532.

PMID: 38704529 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04259-w

BACKGROUND: Successful endodontic treatment needs accurate determination of working length (WL). Electronic apex locators (EALs) were presented as an alternative to radiographic methods; and since then, they have evolved and gained popularity in the determination of WL. However, there is insufficient evidence on the post-operative pain, adequacy, and accuracy of EALs in determining WL.

OBJECTIVE: The systematic review and meta-analysis aims to gather evidence regarding the effectiveness of EALs for WL determination when compared to different imaging techniques along with postoperative pain associated with WL determination, the number of radiographs taken during the procedure, the time taken, and the adverse effects.

METHODS: For the review, clinical studies with cross-over and parallel-arm randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in seven electronic databases, followed by cross-referencing of the selected studies and related research synthesis. Risk of bias (RoB) assessment was carried out with Cochrane's RoB tool and a random-effects model was used. The meta-analysis was performed with the RevMan software 5.4.1.

RESULTS: Eleven eligible RCTs were incorporated into the review and eight RCTs into the meta-analysis, of which five had high RoB and the remaining six had unclear RoB. Following meta-analysis, no significant difference in postoperative pain was found among the EAL and radiograph groups (SMD 0.00, CI .29 to .28, 354 participants; P value = 0.98). Radiograph group showed better WL accuracy (SMD 0.55, CI .11 to .99, 254 participants; P value = 0.02), while the EAL group had 10% better WL adequacy (RR 1.10, CI 1.03-1.18, 573 participants; P value = 0.006).

CONCLUSION: We found very low-certainty evidence to support the efficacy of different types of EAL compared to radiography for the outcomes tested. We were unable to reach any conclusions about the superiority of any type of EAL. Well-planned RCTs need to be conducted by standardizing the outcomes and outcome measurement methods.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods

Validity and reliability of tooth size and dental arch measurements: a stereo photogrammetric study

Al-Khatib AR, Rajion ZA, Masudi SM, Hassan R, Townsend GC

Aust Orthod J, 2012 May;28(1):22-9.

PMID: 22866590

The development of three-dimensional computer imaging has many applications in dentistry, including the analysis of dental casts.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods*

Comparison of two methods of dental age estimation in 7-15-year-old Malays

Mani SA, Naing L, John J, Samsudin AR

Int J Paediatr Dent, 2008 Sep;18(5):380-8.

PMID: 18284472 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2007.00890.x

BACKGROUND: Numerous methods of age estimation have been proposed. The Demirjian method is the most frequently used, which was first applied in a French Canadian population in 1973. The Willems method is a modification of the above and was applied in a Belgian population in 2002.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to test the applicability of the two methods, namely Demirjian and Willems, for age estimation in a Malay population, and to find the correlation between body mass index and the difference between the dental age and the chronological age.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 214 boys and 214 girls, selected by a simple stratified random sampling method was carried out. The orthopantomograph was used to score the seven left mandibular teeth, and the calculated maturity score was used to obtain the Demirjian dental age. Willems dental age was estimated using the tables proposed in the Willems method. Results. The Demirjian method overestimated the age by 0.75 and 0.61 years, while the Willems method overestimated the age by 0.55 and 0.41 years among boys and girls, respectively. In boys, the body mass index was significantly correlated to the difference in age using the Willems method.
CONCLUSION: Further modification of either method is indicated for dental age estimation among the Malay population.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods*

Tooth size discrepancies in an orthodontic population

Othman S, Harradine N

Angle Orthod, 2007 Jul;77(4):668-74.

PMID: 17605478

To explore how many millimeters of tooth size discrepancy (TSD) are clinically significant, to determine what percentage of a representative orthodontic population has such a tooth size discrepancy, and to determine the ability of simple visual inspection to detect such a discrepancy.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods*

Comparison between two ultrasonic units in shaping curved canals in teeth using macroradiography

Ahmad M

Endod Dent Traumatol, 1991 Apr;7(2):55-8.

PMID: 1782894

The efficacy of two ultrasonic units in shaping curved canals in teeth were compared. Twenty teeth were instrumented using the Cavi-Endo unit at a power setting 1 using the technique recommended by the manufacturer. Another group of 20 teeth received similar treatment but were instrumented with the Enac unit. The time taken to instrument each canal was recorded. The pre- and post-instrumented radiographs of the teeth of x 10 magnification were taken using a microfocal technique. The radiographs were subjected to a subtraction technique to result in composite images of the pre- and post-instrumented shapes. The canal shape and the incidence of elbows were evaluated using various measurements taken from the radiographs. The manner the dentine was removed was similar in both groups. All canals exhibited unequal removal along the canal with more dentine being removed at the coronal end. The Enac group exhibited a higher incidence of elbows which occurred further apically than those in the Cavi-Endo group. There was no significant difference between groups in the following: time of instrumentation, amount of apical and coronal canal enlargement, apical deviation and change in width at the elbow. These findings were no different from those of another study using simulated canals.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods

Tooth size and dental arch dimensions: a stereophotogrammetric study in Southeast Asian Malays

Al-Khatib AR, Rajion ZA, Masudi SM, Hassan R, Anderson PJ, Townsend GC

Orthod Craniofac Res, 2011 Nov;14(4):243-53.

PMID: 22008304 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-6343.2011.01529.x

To investigate tooth size and dental arch dimensions in Malays using a stereophotogrammetric system.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods

Regression methods to investigate the relationship between facial measurements and widths of the maxillary anterior teeth

Isa ZM, Tawfiq OF, Noor NM, Shamsudheen MI, Rijal OM

J Prosthet Dent, 2010 Mar;103(3):182-8.

PMID: 20188241 DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3913(10)60028-5

In rehabilitating edentulous patients, selecting appropriately sized teeth in the absence of preextraction records is problematic.

Matched MeSH terms: Odontometry/methods

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