Comparative evaluation of bioactive calcium silicate coating on functionalized gutta-percha and its effect on...

The study aims to evaluate the calcium silicate coating on the gutta-percha (GP) surface, modified with different pretreatments, and the effect of surface pretreatments on AH Plus bioceramic sealer wettability.

Sixty GP discs were randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1: no surface pretreatment and calcium silicate coating, Group 2: chemical treatment and calcium silicate coating, and Group 3: Nonthermal atmospheric plasma treatment and calcium silicate coating. Afterward, the topographic examination was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and the wettability of the bioceramic sealer was analyzed using a goniometer.

SEM analysis revealed that Group 3 showed a nanostructured calcium silicate coating with high levels of calcium (Ca) and silicon (Si) (106.38 ± 2.74 and 270.81 ± 47.18, respectively) and the least contact angle (52.73 ± 6.91), indicating superior sealer wettability.

Functionalized GP with a nanostructured calcium silicate thin film provides better wettability with AH Plus bioceramic sealer. Surface modifications of GP were improved by pretreatments, resulting in enhanced coatings. Among the pretreatment methods, plasma pretreatment resulted in superior calcium silicate coating and sealer wettability.