New electronic canal measuring device based on the ratio method.

The most striking disadvantage of most apex locators is that if there are electrolytes in the canal the meter shows a reading which is too short or sometimes the measurement itself becomes impossible. To overcome this drawback, a new concept for electrically measuring the root canal length has been developed. The device simultaneously measures two impedances of the canal using current sources with two different frequencies. Then the ratio between the two electric potentials proportional to each impedance is calculated. The quotient is shown on the device's meter and represents the position of a file tip in the canal. The present study found that the quotient was only negligibly influenced by the electrolyte present in the canal and decreased considerably as the file tip approached the apical foramen.