The effect varied scanning electron microscopy desiccation techniques has on demineralized dentin

The study objective was to assess (a) the effect of a rubbing‐application of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or citric acid (CA) has on the ultrastructure of surface dentin and (b) the effect of two scanning electron microscopy (SEM) desiccation preparation techniques have on the collagen surface produced. Treatment regions on proximal root surfaces of extracted human teeth were root planned to expose dentin. Cotton pellets soaked in either 30% CA or 24% EDTA solution were rubbed on the treatment region then processed for SEM using one of two desiccation techniques, that is, (a) critically point dried from liquid CO₂ (control) or (b) air‐dried from tetramethylsilane (experimental). Specimens were coated with gold/palladium and viewed/photographed with an SEM. Specimens of the control groups displayed tufted fibrils (CA > EDTA) with many dentin tubules being partially obscured by overhanging fibrils. Air‐dried specimens of both treatment groups displayed a flat intact monolayer devoid of a matted meshwork of fibrous collagen. Discrete fibril “sprigs,” emanating from the surface monolayer, were characteristic of the EDTA group only. The rubbing‐application of EDTA on dentin produces a tufted fibril surface somewhat similar to that produced by CA. Air‐drying desiccation of both resulted in marked distortion with fibril collapse/coalescence of the tufted collagen matrix.