A STUDY ON THE REMOVAL OF DENTINAL SMEAR LAYER BY DENTIN CONDITIONER

상아질처리제(象牙質處理劑)에 의(依)한 상아질(象牙質) 표면(表面) 도말층(塗抹層)의 제거(除去)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect on the removal of dentinal smear layer and morphological changes of reduced dentin surfaces by various dentin surface conditioners. Thirty-two healthy human premolars extracted due to periodontal or orthodontic reasons were used. The teeth were cross-sectioned to expose dentin at the middle portion of the crown with diamond rotary saw. The specimens were then divided into 8 groups. The sectioned dentin surfaces in group 1 to 4 were grinded with No. 400 grit silicone abrasive paper and those in group 5 to 8 were cut with #700 carbide bur under air-water spray. The grinded or cut dentin surfaces were conditioned with 3% $H_2O$, Dentin Conditioner(GC Inter. Corp., Japan), and Scotchprep(3M Dent Prod., U.S.A) according to manufacturer's directions. All the specimens were dried in room temperature for 48 hours, and gold-coated with Eiko ion coater(Eik-engineering Co.), and observed in Hitachi S-450 Scanning electron microscope at 15-25 KV. The following results were obtained; 1. The dentin surfaces grinded with the silicon abrasive paper were rougher in texture and heavier in amount of smear layer than those cut with the carbide bur. 2. Scrubbing of 3% $H_2O_2$ was not effective in removing dentinal smear layer. 3. 20-second conditioning of Dentin Conditioner (GC Inter. Corp) resulted in the removal of a significant amount of the smear layer without removing the tubular plugs and dissolving the peritubular dentin. 4. Scotchprep removed the smear layer very effectively. But at the same time it dissolved the peritubular dentin. 5. Irrespective of the uses of the silicon carbide abrasive paper or the carbide bur the morphological changes of dentin surfaces treated with the same conditioning agents were similar.