[Clinical evaluation of the voltage gradient method for root canal measurement].

The voltage gradient method for root canal measurement was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. For the evaluation in vivo, 25 single root teeth, were employed. The working length was measured by bipolor or monopolor electrode. After measurement, the electrode was fixed on the tooth, and the tooth was extracted. Radiograph was taken from 12 directions perpendicular to longer axis of tooth, and the relation between anatomical foramen, physiological foramen and the attained position of electrode tip was assessed. In the evaluation in vitro, 7 extracted teeth were used, for which the positions of anatomical foramen and physiological foramen had been determined in advance from radiograph, in order to determine the influence of the root canal irrigants and medicaments. The electrode was fixed on electronic calipers and direct reading of the movement. Root canal irrigants and medicaments were injected into root canal, and the measurements were evaluated. The results were as follows: (1) In the cases of 22 teeth measured by monopolar electrode in vivo, the electrode tip was within 0.5mm from physiological foramen except one tooth. (2) In the cases of 3 teeth measured by monopolar electrode in vivo, the electrode tip was within 0.4mm from anatomical foramen. (3) In the cases, where electrolyte solution was filled in root canal and measurement was made by bipolar in the evaluation in vitro, the results of measurement were stable, and the electrode tip tended to be slightly closer to coronal direction from physiological foramen. (4) In the cases where non-electrolyte solution was filled in root canal and measurement was made by bipolar electrode in the evaluation in vitro, the results of measurement were not stable, and the electrode tip tended to be closer to the apex from physiological foramen. (5) In the case of the evaluation in vitro, where electrolyte solution was filled in root canal and measurement was made by monopolar electrode, the electrode tip tended to be a little closer to the front than the anatomical foramen. (6) In the evaluation in vitro, where non-electrolyte solution was filled in root canal and measurement was made by monopolar, the measurement was not achievable. (7) 10% NaOCl solution was found to be very useful as electrolyte solution filled in root canal to search physiological foramen by this measurement method. The above results suggest that the voltage gradient method for root canal measurement is highly reliable because root canal morphology at the apex can be directly in identified.