One of the greatest difficulties in endodontic treatment is to determine the working length, due to the limitations imposed by radiographic images. Many techniques have been developed with the intention of facilitating dental measurement during endodontic treatment. Our objective was to carry out a clinical comparison of the efficacy of two methods often used in dental measurement: grid pattern and electronic apex locator (APIT, Osada, Japan). Similar results were found in 76,46% of the cases, in teeth with the vital pulp preserved; and in teeth with necrotic pulp, results agreed in 83,64% of the cases. APIT was not efficient to determine the radicular length only in obliterated root canal, or with apexes which had large resorptions. The grid pattern presented less efficiency in determining the working length due to its own radiographic limitations. The electronic positioner was more efficient than the grid pattern but it has a higher cost.
Endodontic; Endodontic treatment; Dental measurement
