title: Atomic force microscopy observation of the enamel roughness and depth profile after phosphoric acid etching.
abstract: The aim was to compare the enamel surface roughness (ESR) and absolute depth profile (ADP) (mean peak-to-valley height) by atomic force microscopy (AFM) before and after using four different phosphoric acids. A total of 160 enamel samples from 40 upper premolars were prepared. The inclusion criterion was that the teeth have healthy enamel. Exclusion criteria included any of the following conditions: facial restorations, caries lesions, enamel hypoplasia and dental fluorosis. Evaluations of the ESR and ADP were carried out by AFM. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare continuous variables and the Wilcoxon test was used to analyze the differences between before and after etching. There were statistically significant differences (P <or= 0.05) among mean surface roughness and absolute depth before and after using four different phosphoric acids in healthy enamel; Etch-37 and Scotchbond Etching Gel showed higher profiles after etching (P <or= 0.05). There were statistically significant differences (P <or= 0.05) among roughness and ADP before and after using four different phosphoric acids in healthy enamel. However, consistently Etch-37 and Scotchbond Etching Gel showed the highest increase regarding the ESR and ADP after etching healthy enamel. AFM was a useful tool to study site-specific structural topography changes in enamel after phosphoric acid etching.
authors.affiliation: San Luis Potosi University, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava S/N, Zona Universitaria, CP 78290, San Luis Potosi, México. jloyola@uaslp.mx
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loyola-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zavala-Alonso
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reyes-Vela
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patiño-Marin
authors.forename: Facundo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anusavice
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D013499:Surface Properties; D014070:Tooth / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D010756:Phosphoric Acids; C030242:phosphoric acid