Root canal hydrophobization by dentinal silanization: improvement of silicon-based endodontic treatment tightness

A new strategy to improve silicon-based endodontic treatment tightness by dentine hydrophobization is presented in this work: root dentine was silanized to obtain a hydrophobic dentine-sealer interface that limits fluid penetration. This strategy was based on the grafting of aliphatic carbon chains on the dentine through a silanization with the silane end groups [octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) and octadecyltriethoxysilane]. Dentine surface was previously pretreated, applying ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sodium hypochlorite, to expose hydroxyl groups of collagen for the silane grafting. Collagen fibers exposure after pretreatment was visible with scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed their correct exposition for the silanization (amide I and II, with 1630, 1580, and 1538 cm⁻¹ peaks corresponding to the vibration of C=O and C--N bonds). The grafting of aliphatic carbon chains was confirmed by FTIR (peaks at 2952 and 2923 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the stretching of C--H bonds) and by the increasing of the water contact angle. The most efficient hydrophobization was obtained with OTS in ethyl acetate, with a water contact angle turning from 51° to 109°. Gas and liquid permeability tests showed an increased seal tightness after silanization: the mean gas and water flows dropped from 2.02 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.62 × 10⁻⁸ mol s⁻¹ and from 10.8 × 10⁻³ to 5.4 × 10⁻³ µL min⁻¹, respectively. These results show clear evidences to turn hydrophilic dentine surface into a hydrophobic surface that may improve endodontic sealing.