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Figure 3. TEM micrographs of bonding of Single Bond to laser-ablated, acid-etched, superficial dentin. (a) A low-magnification view showing the absence of the surface laser-modified layer after acid-etching. However, the extent of laser treatment extended into the subsurface intertubular dentin. These partially denatured collagen fibrils could not be removed by phosphoric acid and probably interfered with resin infiltration. A, adhesive layer; P, polyalkenoic acid copolymer; D, demineralized intertubular dentin. Bar = 300 nm. (b) A high-magnification view of the region marked with an asterisk in (a). Despite the presence of collagen fibrils with intact microfibrillar architecture (arrow), collagen banding could not be observed from the majority of the fibrils. These subsurface collagen fibrils were probably partially denatured by the heat generated during laser treatment. Bar = 100 nm.

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