COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACCURACY OF ROOT ZX MINI AND MICROPEX ELECTRONIC APEX LOCATORS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of two electronic apex locators, Root ZX Mini (J. Morita Corporation, Japan) and Micropex (AI Dental Micropex, China), in locating the apical foramen, comparing the effectiveness and reliability of both devices. This experimental ex vivo study included 30 single-rooted human teeth with fully formed, intact apices, provided by a Human Tooth Bank. Following selection, endodontic access, apical patency, and preparation of the cervical and middle thirds were performed. The teeth were secured in holes in the lid of a polystyrene container, with their apices immersed in isotonic saline solution, which served as a conductive medium. Size 10 or 15 K-files were used in conjunction with the apex locators to determine the actual tooth length (ATL) and working length (WL). The results showed that 40% of the measurements obtained with Micropex matched the ATL, whereas Root ZX Mini achieved an accuracy of 46.7%. Regarding WL, Micropex achieved an accuracy of 23.3% at the −1 setting, whereas Root ZX Mini achieved 40%. Both devices demonstrated satisfactory performance; however, Root ZX Mini showed greater accuracy and a lower frequency of measurements extending beyond the apical foramen.