Scanning electron microscopic observation of the peritubular zone in dentin sclerosis.

ISOKAWA, TODA and KUBOTA[1] etched fractured human dentin surfaces with a weak acid and observed that a part of the peritubular zone persisted as a recognizable tubular structure. The inner hypomineralized layer (SHROFF, WILLIAMSON and BERTAUD [2], SHROFF et al. [3] and TAKUMA [4]) which appeared in the tubular structure was assumed to play an important role. ISOKAWA et al. [1] also presumed differences in acid etching according to the kind of teeth and the site of dentin of the same teeth. In the present study, the influence of acid etching was studied in attrited and non-attrited teeth. It was concluded that the sclerosis of the dentinal tubules and the reprecipitation of crystals due to acid plays an important role in the formation of the tubular structure.