Shaping Ability of Reciprocating Single-file Systems in Simulated Canals: Reciproc versus Reciproc Blue

Abstract

The aim was to compare the canal straightening of M-wire [Reciproc (VDW, Munich, Germany)] and blue-wire heat-treated [Reciproc Blue (VDW) instruments in simulated resin L-shaped curved root canals. A total of 26 simulated L-shaped root canals with curvature of 45° and length of 17 mm (#15-0.02 taper) endo training blocks were divided into two groups (n = 13). All canals were prepared to an apical size 25 according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Pre- and post-instrumentation digital photography were superimposed and canal straightening was analysed using a computer imaging programme. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine the normal distribution of the data. For comparing two groups according to canal straightening independent t-test was used. During preparation no instrument fractured. All instruments maintained the original canal curvature well with no significant differences between the instruments. Regarding preparation time, no significant differences between the two instruments were obtained (P > 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, instruments were safe to use and all instruments respected the original canal curvature well. It was concluded that reciprocal motion files with or without blue-heat treated had similar preparation time and similar shaping abilities at intracanal temperature and maintained root canal curves equally well.