Effect of dentin pre-treatment with Bioglass F18 suspensions on surface characteristics and bond strength of endodontic sealers

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether dentin pre-treatment with bioactive glass F18 suspensions modifies dentin surface characteristics and influences the bond strength of bioceramic and epoxy resin-based endodontic sealers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Extracted human root canals were treated with distilled water, PBS or Bioglass F18 suspensions (2.5%, 5%, or 10%). Dentin surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Bovine dentin specimens were treated with distilled water or 5% F18 and filled with a bioceramic (Bio-C Sealer) or epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus) for interfacial and mechanical analyses. The material-dentin interface was evaluated by micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after PBS immersion. Push-out and tensile bond strength tests were performed. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests according to data distribution. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Bioglass F18 promoted the deposition of bioactive material on the dentin surface, with comparable effects observed at 5% and 10% concentrations. All F18 concentrations significantly increased the bond strength of both sealers compared with controls (p < 0.05). In tensile testing, dentin pre-treatment with 5% F18 resulted in significantly higher bond strength (p < 0.05). AH Plus exhibited higher bond strength than Bio-C Sealer in both mechanical tests (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dentin pre-treatment with Bioglass F18 enhanced dentin bioactivity and improved the sealer-dentin adhesion for both Bio-C Sealer and AH Plus. The effects were concentration-dependent across different outcomes, with 5% F18 showing favorable performance in tensile bond strength and comparable behavior to 10% F18 in push-out testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dentin pre-treatment with Bioglass F18 may improve sealer-dentin interfacial performance under in vitro conditions and could represent a potential adjunctive approach in root canal sealing strategies, pending further long-term and in vivo investigations.