Technology › Apex Locators
Careful measurements of the length of the root canals are a requirement for successful root canal treatment. These measurements can be either made using X-rays or using electronic measurement devices called apex locators.
Apex locator is an electronic device used in endodontics to determine the position of the apical foramen and thus determine the length of the root canal space. The root apex has a specific resistance to electrical current and this is measured by a pair of electrodes with one hooked on to the lip and the other attached to a root canal file.
This clever device uses certain principles of physics to allow measurement of the length of the root canal to within 0.5mm thus improving the accuracy of treatment.