The effect of coronal preflaring on the accuracy of two electronic apex locators

One of the main factors that determines the success of root canal treatment is the instrumentation confined to the root canal; specific methods are available for measuring its working length. This study aims to compare the accuracy of two types of apex locators and evaluate the influence of coronal preflaring on their use. The working lengths of sixteen first mandibular bicuspids were measured visually, using two types of apex locators before and after coronal preflaring. The result showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the two types of apex locators before coronal preflaring, but no statistically significant difference after coronal preflaring. The study concludes that coronal preflaring increases the accuracy of apex locators in locating the apical foramen.