Landmark Clinical Study Proves Superiority of Dentsply Sirona’s Reciproc® Endodontic Protocol

Newly published retrospective cohort study[1] involving over 14,000 endodontically treated teeth with a 5-10 year follow-up shows that treatment protocols do matter: utilizing Reciproc instruments results in 30-40% higher survival rates compared to traditional hand files and rotary NiTi protocols beside other significant findings.

Charlotte. A comprehensive clinical study published in the International Endodontic Journal has provided compelling evidence that endodontic treatment protocols incorporating Reciproc instruments deliver significantly superior patient outcomes compared to traditional approaches. The landmark research, spanning 25 years and including 14,233 treated teeth, represents one of the largest in-vivo studies ever conducted in endodontics.

Comparing Three Endodontic Protocols

The retrospective cohort study, conducted by researchers at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, Cairo, Egypt, and the Dental Academy for Continuing Professional Development, Karlsruhe, Germany, compared three distinct endodontic treatment protocols over an extended follow-up period. The study utilized sophisticated analytical approaches including entropy balancing and multistate analysis to ensure robust conclusions.

Protocol 3, which incorporated Reciproc instruments along with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), EDTA, apex locators, warm vertical obturation techniques, and calcium silicate-based sealer, was applied to 7,116 teeth in compliance with the manufacturer instructions for use, i.e. no initial glide path. When Reciproc could not reach the working length, in few cases, the glide path was performed manually. Protocol 3 using Reciproc demonstrated dramatically improved outcomes compared to both traditional hand file methods (Protocol 1; n=5,450) and rotary NiTi systems (Protocol 2; n=1,667).

Key Findings

The study shows that treatment protocols do matter-contrary to previous assumptions. Reciproc's specific features, including its ability to achieve canal patency without an initial glide path, might have contributed to significantly better long-term outcomes. Protocol 3, using Reciproc, was significantly superior in terms of long-term tooth survival and reduced need for reintervention:

· The teeth survival rates, without further interventions, were 30-40% higher.

· The incidence of non-surgical retreatments was 66% lower.

· The surgical retreatment incidence was 57% lower.

· And the incidence of tooth extractions was 21% lower.

"This study provides strong clinical evidence that treatment protocols incorporating Reciproc instruments significantly enhance endodontic outcomes," said Prof. Ghassan Yared, inventor of single file reciprocation and the Reciproc Blue.

"The study validates what we've observed in practice: that Reciproc technology enables better outcomes for patients," said Mathias Kraus, Vice President Endodontic Solutions at Dentsply Sirona. "Having robust clinical evidence spanning 25 years and over 14,000 cases give endodontists the confidence to adopt protocols that can significantly improve their workflow success rates. We're committed to advancing endodontic care through evidence-based innovation, and these results demonstrate the real-world impact."

About Reciproc Blue

Reciproc Blue represents the latest advancement in reciprocating endodontic instrumentation, building upon the proven success of the original Reciproc system. This single-file reciprocating system is designed to simplify root canal preparation and to work seamlessly with the X-Smart^® Pro+ endodontic motor, providing precise control and high level reciprocating motion parameters. The X-Smart^® Pro+ also features an integrated apex locator and an auto-reverse function to ensure the file stays on target.

The system offers several advantages, including time savings and reduced complexity as well as less stress to the patient thanks to the single-file preparation. Prospective randomized controlled clinical studies performed on more than 1,500 patients largely confirmed that Reciproc treatment solutions support performance and safety.

For more information about Reciproc Blue and the X-Smart^® Pro+ endodontic motor, please visit:

https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-us/discover/discover-by-brand/reciproc-blue.html

https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-gb/discover/discover-by-brand/x-smart-pro-plus.html

[1] Elmaasarawi, A., Mekhemar, M. & Bartols, A. (2025) Influence of different endodontic treatment protocols on tooth survival: A retrospective cohort study with multistate analysis and group balancing. International Endodontic Journal, 00, 1-22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.14271