An in vivo evaluation of Root ZX electronic apex locator.

The Root ZX has been introduced recently as a device capable of performing accurately in the presence of sodium hypochlorite, blood, water, local anesthetic, and pulpal tissues. The Root ZX was used to locate the apical foramen in 26 root canals of vital teeth. After extraction of the teeth, a stereomicroscope was used to confirm visually the relationship of the tip of the endodontic file to the apical foramen. The Root ZX located exactly the apical foramen in 17 canals (65.4%), was short in 1 canal (3.8%), and was overextended in 8 canals (30.8%). When a potential error of +/-0.5 mm from the foramen is accepted as a tolerable range for the clinical application of an electronic apex locator, the Root ZX was able to locate the foramen within this range in 25 teeth for a clinical accuracy rate of 96.2%.