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Figure 3. TEM micrographs illustrating the application of the mild self-etch adhesive Clearfil SE Bond to the dentin surface that was left behind after caries removal with the polymer bur. (A) Stained, demineralized section showing the presence of an 8- to 12-µm-thick, stained hybrid layer (H) in the incompletely removed caries-infected dentin (asterisk). Adjacent dentinal tubules in this zone were deformed and filled with bacteria. Bacteria were also identified (open arrowhead) from the undeformed portion of the dentinal tubule within the underlying transparent dentin zone (TZ). A, filled adhesive. (B) Silver-impregnated, unstained, undemineralized section showing the presence of deformed dentinal tubules within the incompletely removed caries-infected dentin (asterisk), and partially blocked tubules within the underlying translucent zone (TZ). The latter was highly porous, as can be seen by the discontinuous islands of silver deposits (pointer). Conversely, the overlying zone of incompletely removed caries-infected dentin was probably better-infiltrated with the self-etching primer component of the adhesive, and exhibited fewer silver deposits. A, filled adhesive.
