Accuracy of Two Electronic Foraminal Locators Integrated with Endomotor: An Ex vivo Study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of two electronic foramen locators (EFLs), E-connect S and Sensory, both integrated into portable endodontic motors, with that of the standalone Root ZX II, and to evaluate the influence of instrument size and application mode. Fifty extracted single-rooted human teeth were prepared to a standardized apical size and randomly assigned to five groups according to the device, file size, and application mode: Sensory, Sensory in dynamic measurement mode, E-connect S, E-connect S in dynamic measurement mode, and Root ZX II as control. Electronic working length determinations were performed using the alginate model method. In the control and locator mode groups, K-files #15, #20, and #25 were inserted until the devices indicated the apex, while in the dynamic measurement groups, Reciproc R25 and R40 files were used. After all electronic measurements, the actual tooth length was determined by apical sectioning, photography, and analysis with ImageJ software. Data normality was assessed using the Jarque–Bera test, which indicated a normal distribution (p > 0.05). Group comparisons were performed using ANOVA and the t-test at a 5% significance level. No statistically significant differences were observed between the integrated devices and the Root ZX II overall. However, in dynamic measurement mode, Sensory showed significantly lower accuracy than E-connect S when using #25 files, with no difference observed for #40 files. Clinically, these findings suggest that both integrated motors can be used reliably for working length determination, although visibility and control during measurement may affect performance. The integrated systems may therefore offer a practical alternative to standalone apex locators in clinical endodontics. Further studies should explore the devices’ behavior in vivo and under different canal conditions to confirm these findings.