Keywords
Working length
Electronic apex locator
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Abstract
Objective: To conduct an integrative literature review on the clinical factors that influence the accuracy of electronic apex locators. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Virtual Health Library databases for articles published from 2018 to 2023, in Portuguese and English. The search used the following English keywords: “endodontics AND working length AND electronic apex locator”. For this review, only open-access articles reporting clinical or laboratory studies—in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo—were included. Results: The selected articles provide a solid foundation for understanding the importance of measurement accuracy in determining working length during endodontic procedures. They highlight the effectiveness of specific electronic apex locators (EALs) and emphasize that measurement precision is affected by several factors, including irrigants, periapical lesions, resorption, and anatomical irregularities. Final considerations: Working length determination requires an individualized approach, in which the specific clinical conditions of each case must be carefully considered to achieve reliable outcomes.
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