Accuracy and repeatability of 3 apex locators in locating root canal perforations: an ex vivo study.

INTRODUCTION: This study was an ex vivo evaluation of the accuracy and repeatability of 3 electronic apex locators (EALs) in locating simulated root canal perforations. METHODS: Thirty-five human teeth were used. Perforations were placed 5 mm from the apex of each specimen. A #15 K-file was attached to a micrometer, and the specimens were fixed in a mounting model. The EALs were connected to the files, and electronic measurements of the simulated perforations were obtained. This procedure was repeated, the files were cemented in place, and x-rays were obtained to evaluate the distances between the measurement files and the simulated perforations. The obtained results were compared with the corresponding control lengths. Three investigators evaluated the distance of the file position in relation to the perforation for each specimen. The 3 investigators reached consensus regarding these measurements. RESULTS: Statistical analyses of the results revealed that the EAL reliabilities in the exact detections of the root canal perforations were 97.1% for the Mini Apex Locator, 100% for the Root SW, and 91.4% for the Root ZX II. Analysis of variance revealed that the accuracies of the 3 devices were not different (P > .05). The results also indicated high levels of repeatability for each of the 3 EALs (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0998, 0.999, and 0.999 for the Mini Apex Locator, Root SW, and Root ZX II, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that each of these 3 EALs provided excellent ex vivo accuracy in locating root perforations and that all tested devices possess excellent ex vivo repeatability.

Conhecimento sobre endocardite infecciosa entreestudantes de odontologia / Knowledge about infective endocarditis among dentistry students

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento sobre Endocardite Infecciosa(EI) entre estudantes do 9.º e 10.º períodos do curso de Odontologiado Centro Universitário de João Pessoa – UNIPÊ.Método: Foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo, com abordagemquantitativa dos dados. A amostra foi composta por 59 estudantes,que responderam um questionário composto de 6 quesitos (4 objetivose 2 subjetivos) específicos sobre o assunto. Os dados foramregistrados na forma de banco de dados do programa de informáticaSPSS (StatisticalPackage for the Social Sciences) para Windows®,versão 20.0, e analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencialbivariada.Resultados: A maioria dos estudantes (83,1%)definiu corretamentea EI. O fator de risco para desenvolvimento da EI mais citado foia endocardite infecciosa prévia (86,4%). A maioria dos estudantes(91,5%) destacou a extração dentária como um dos procedimentosem que a profilaxia antibiótica é necessária para a prevenção da EI.Apenas 13,6% dos estudantes acertaram o protocolo de prevençãoda EI. A maioria (74,6%) julgou insuficiente os conhecimentos adquiridossobre a EI durante a graduação.

Objective: To evaluate knowledge about infective endocarditis(IE) among students from the 9th and 10th terms of the Dentistrycourse at Centro Universitário deJoão Pessoa – UNIPÊ.Method: A field research with quantitative approach of data wascarried out. The sample was composed of 59 students who answeredto a questionnaire containing six specific questions (four objectiveand two subjective ones) about the subject. Data were registered asdatabase of the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) computingprogram for Windows®, version 20.0, and they were analyzedby means of descriptive and bivariate inferential statistics.Results: Most of the students (83,1%) defined IE correctly. Themostly mentioned risk factor for the development of IE was theprevious infective endocarditis (86,4%). The majority of the students(91,5%) highlighted tooth extraction as one of the proceduresin which the antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary for preventing IE.Only 13,6% of the students correctly defined the IE prevention protocol.The majority of them (74,6%) judged the acquired knowledgeas insufficient regarding the IE during the undergraduate course.Conclusion: In spite of the students showed to be aware in relationto risk factors for the IE development as well as about the dentalprocedures, in which the antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary, thereduced number of those who know the prevention protocol of thisinfection is of great concern.