Fj. Baggett et al., AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEASUREMENT OF THE WORKING LENGTH OF IMMATURE INCISOR TEETH REQUIRING ENDODONTIC TREATMENT IN CHILDREN, British Dental Journal, 181(3), 1996, pp. 96-98
A study was undertaken to determine if a tactile technique, using abso
rbent paper points, could be used to estimate the working length of no
nvital immature incisor teeth undergoing endodontic treatment. Two ope
rators were involved in measuring 35 incisor teeth. The tactile techni
que was found to be valid and reliable. In 95% of the cases the estima
ted working length was within 1 mm of the radiographic diagnostic leng
th, It is recommended that diagnostic radiographs are no longer necess
ary in the majority of cases involving endodontic treatment: of inciso
r teeth requiring root end closure in children, for practitioners who
are regularly carrying out endodontic treatment of immature incisor te
eth. However, if a tooth has been on open drainage a diagnostic radiog
raph is still required.