SVOA Dentistry

Maxwell Baran, DMD^1*, Thomas E. Lallier, PhD², Kade Edenfield, BS¹, Jacob Brooks, BS1, Edwin Kee, MCDT¹, George Arch Jr., DDS, FICD, FICOI¹, Meric Karapinar Kazandag, DDS, MSc, PhD¹, Albert F. McMullen III, DDS, FACD, DABE¹

¹Department of Endodontics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, 1100 Florida Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, USA.

²Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, 1100 Florida Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, USA.

*Corresponding Author: Maxwell Baran, DMD, Department of Endodontics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, 1100 Florida Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119, USA, Phone: +1 504-941-8395

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOADE.2026.07.018

Received: May 08, 2026

Published: May 29, 2026

Citation: Baran M, Lallier TE, Edenfield K, Brooks J, Kee E, Arch G Jr, Kazandag MK, McMullen AF III. A Comparative Study of Cyclic Fatigue of BlueShaper Pro and Pro Taper Gold Rotary files. An In Vitro Study. SVOA Dentistry 2026, 7:3, 134-143. doi: 10.58624/SVOADE.2026.07.018

Abstract

Introduction: Cyclic fatigue is a primary cause of nickel–titanium (NiTi) rotary file separation during endodontic treatment. Thermomechanical heat treatments, such as gold and blue processing, alter phase transformation behavior to improve flexibility and fatigue resistance. The BlueShaper Pro system incorporates DualWire® technology, combining blue- and gold-treated alloys within a single file, while ProTaper Gold relies solely on gold treatment. This in vitro, laboratory study compared the cyclic fatigue resistance of both systems under standardized in-vitro conditions.

Materials and Methods: Sixty BlueShaper Pro (Z1–Z5) and sixty ProTaper Gold (S1–F3) files (25 mm) were tested in custom stainless-steel blocks simulating 30° and 90° canal curvatures (n = 30 per group). Files were operated per manufacturer parameters using an X-Smart Endo Motor. Time to fracture was recorded via high-definition video, and the number of cycles to failure (NCF) calculated as NCF = (time × rpm)/60. Data was analyzed with independent t-tests (p < 0.05).

Results: No files fractured at 30°, whereas all fractured at 90°. No significant differences were found for Z1/S1 or Z2/S2. ProTaper Gold showed greater fatigue resistance in intermediate files (F1, F2), while BlueShaper Pro demonstrated superior resistance in the final file (Z5) (p < 0.05). Fracture consistently occurred 9.08–14.5 mm from the tip within the canal curvature.

Conclusion: Both ProTaper Gold and BlueShaper Pro showed high cyclic fatigue resistance, with failure occurring only at 90° curvature. Because each system demonstrated sequence-specific advantages, a hybrid approach using BlueShaper Pro in the initial and final stages and ProTaper Gold in the intermediate stages may optimize performance. Overall, file behavior was influenced not only by heat treatment, but also by flute geometry, taper, cross-sectional design, and operating parameters, underscoring that the ideal rotary file must balance mechanical performance with minimally invasive canal shaping and dentin preservation.

Keywords: Nickel–titanium; cyclic fatigue; BlueShaper Pro; ProTaper Gold; Thermomechanical treatment; DualWire Technology.