Internal Morphology of Surface Zones from Acid-etched Caries-like Lesions: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract

Using scanning electron microscopic techniques, we compared the surface topography and internal surface morphology of acid-etched caries-like lesions of enamel with those of sound enamel and caries-like lesions of enamel. The results indicated that acid-etching of caries-like lesions of enamel yielded etching patterns similar to those previously described for sound enamel. The internal morphology of the acid-etched lesion indicated that porosities were created which may allow access to the subsurface demineralized area of the lesion and could prove beneficial in facilitating remineralization.