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Figure 3. TEM micrographs showing the changes in silver tracer penetration along the resin-dentin interfaces after aging in oil (control). (A) 6 mos, (B-D) 12 mos. Pointer, reticular patterns of silver deposits; arrow, isolated silver grains; C, resin composite; FA, filled adhesive; H, hybrid layer; T, dentinal tubule; U, undemineralized dentin; G, fluoroaluminosilicate glass fillers. (A) Up to 6 mos, islands of heavy silver deposits could still be seen in the hybrid layers. (B) An overall view of a specimen examined after aging in oil for 12 mos revealed a considerable reduction of these bulk deposits to reticular silver patterns. (C) A high-magnification view of the hybrid layer in the 12-month specimen, showing that the extent of the reticular silver deposits within the hybrid layer was similar to that in the one-month specimen that was stored in artificial saliva (Fig. 1C). (D) A high-magnification view of the adhesive layer in the 12-month specimen revealed fine, sparsely distributed isolated silver grains that were devoid of rosettes or water tree formation.
