[SEM observation of treated dentin surface].

Abstract

Various pretreatments have been attempted to make a polymer bond strongly to dentin. The results of these pretreatments are generally evaluated by SEM or TEM observation. The SEM results sometimes do not lead to the exact evaluation of those pretreatment agents and methods, since artifact arisen during the preparation of SEM samples might conceal the effects of them. However, it could be useful for the discussion of treatments to appreciate the artifact. Thus, by SEM observation we investigated the fine structure of dentin affected by the different sample preparation method.