Morphology, Composition, and Wetting of Dentinal Cavity Walls

The morphology of dentinal cavity walls, wetting by poly (methyl methacrylate), and resistance to tensile forces was studied with a scanning electron microscope, before and after etching or fixation, or both, with glutaraldehyde. Results indicated that the surface layer of dentinal cavity walls after etching is of an aqueous-organic nature, that glutaraldehyde fixation improves the mechanical properties of the surface layer of the cavity wall, and that wetting by poly (methyl methacrylate) is effective.