{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T12:49:52Z","timestamp":1785761392307,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,2]],"date-time":"2026-08-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785628800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dent. J.","Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: To compare the geometric design, metallurgical properties, mechanical performance, and irrigation dynamics of Reciproc Minima (M20 and M25) and Reciproc Blue R25 instruments. Methods: One hundred and eighty instruments (n = 60\/group) were evaluated. Geometry was analyzed using stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and 3D surface scanning. Metallurgical characteristics were assessed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Mechanical performance tests (n = 10\/group) included cyclic fatigue, torsional resistance, bending resistance, buckling resistance, and cutting efficiency. Irrigation dynamics were examined through computational fluid dynamics simulations based on a micro-CT-derived mandibular molar model prepared according to each system and combined with open-ended, side-vented, or double side-vented needles. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal\u2013Wallis tests (\u03b1 = 0.05). Results: The results showed that blade dimensions increased progressively from Minima M20 to Reciproc Blue R25. All instruments had S-shaped cross-sections and non-active tips. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy confirmed near-equiatomic NiTi composition, and similar phase transformation temperatures were observed across groups. Minima M20 showed the highest cyclic fatigue resistance (p &lt; 0.0001), whereas Minima R25 exhibited greater angular deflection (p &lt; 0.0001). Reciproc Blue R25 had the highest buckling resistance and lowest flexibility (p &lt; 0.0001). M25 showed the lowest axial force, indicating the numerically highest cutting efficiency, but it did not differ significantly from Reciproc Blue R25 (p &gt; 0.05). No needle delivered irrigant to working length. The open-ended needle achieved greater apical penetration, particularly with Reciproc Blue R25. Minima M20 generated the highest wall shear stress, and Reciproc Blue R25 the lowest apical pressure. Conclusions: Reciproc Minima and Reciproc Blue R25 showed similar metallurgical characteristics; however, differences in geometric design resulted in distinct mechanical behaviors and irrigation fluid dynamics. These findings suggest that low-taper reciprocating instruments may represent a conservative alternative in anatomically challenging canals, while clinicians should consider the associated differences in mechanical behavior and irrigation dynamics when selecting the most appropriate instrument.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj14080471","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T11:50:21Z","timestamp":1785757821000},"page":"471","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Multimethod Evaluation of the Novel Reciproc Minima System: Geometric Design, Mechanical Performance, and Irrigation Dynamics"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6445-8243","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanuel J. N. L.","family":"Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endodontics, Grande Rio University (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro 21210-623, RJ, Brazil"},{"name":"Department of Endodontics, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6932-2038","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge N. R.","family":"Martins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Grupo de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Bioquimica e Biologia Oral, Unidade de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias Orais e Biom\u00e9dicas (UICOB), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro de Estudo de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria Baseada na Evid\u00eancia (CEMDBE)\u2014Cochrane Portugal, Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Instrumentation, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics (LIBPhys-FCT UID\/FIS\/04559\/2013), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Victor T. L.","family":"Vieira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endodontics, Grande Rio University (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro 21210-623, RJ, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1632-5809","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u00e1rio","family":"Rito Pereira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ricardo","family":"Pinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Grupo de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Bioquimica e Biologia Oral, Unidade de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias Orais e Biom\u00e9dicas (UICOB), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Murilo P.","family":"Alcalde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endodontics, S\u00e3o Paulo University (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3051-737X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco A. H.","family":"Duarte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endodontics, S\u00e3o Paulo University (USP), Bauru 17012-901, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1966-8281","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Duarte","family":"Marques","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Grupo de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Bioquimica e Biologia Oral, Unidade de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Ci\u00eancias Orais e Biom\u00e9dicas (UICOB), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Centro de Estudo de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria Baseada na Evid\u00eancia (CEMDBE)\u2014Cochrane Portugal, Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Instrumentation, Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Physics (LIBPhys-FCT UID\/FIS\/04559\/2013), Faculdade de Medicina Dent\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277 Lisboa, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5277-9827","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco A.","family":"Versiani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Oral Health Center, Brazilian Military Police, Belo Horizonte 30350-190, MG, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"588","DOI":"10.1111\/iej.13739","article-title":"Present status and future directions\u2014Irrigants and irrigation methods","volume":"55","author":"Boutsioukis","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. 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