Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in Determining Root Canal Working Length

Working length determination is a key element to root canal therapy. Current techniques to determine working length include using apex locators and periapical films. A new technology, cone-beam volumetric tomography (CBVT), has been validated for accurate measurements with the root canal system. However, few studies have been done to assess its use in determining working length. A retrospective study was done in order to determine whether the CBVT imaging was as accurate as other accepted techniques. There were four groups measured: CBVT coronal, CBVT sagittal, periapical (PA), and conventional groups, which used an apex locator. These groups were assessed against the control group in this study which was the conventional group. The data suggested that the periapical group measurements may have been least accurate but it did not reach statistical significance.