Chemical treatment of the intra-canal dentin surface: A new approach to modify dentin hydrophobicity

Objective: this study evaluated the hydrophobicity of dentin surfaces that were modified through chemical silanization with octadecyltrichlorosilane (ots). material and methods: an in vitro experimental study was performed using 40 human permanent incisors that were divided into the following two groups: non-silanized and silanized. the specimens were pretreated and chemically modified with ots. after the chemical modification,the dentin hydrophobicity was examined using a water contact angle measurement (wca). the effectiveness of the modification of hydrophobicity was verified by the fluid permeability test (fpt). results and conclusions: statistically significant differences were found in the values of wca and fpt between the two groups. after silanization,the hydrophobic intra- radicular dentin surface exhibited in vitro properties that limit fluid penetration into the sealed root canal. this chemical treatment is a new approach for improving the sealing of the root canal system.