Surface Topography: Its Influence on Wetting and Adhesion in a Dental Adhesive System

Abstract

The fracture surface between bovine dentin and enamel and a dental cement was observed at magnifications up to 10,000× by use of the scanning electron microscope. The topography of the tooth structure played an important role in the formation of an adhesive bond and in the fracture pattern of an adhesive joint, even when cohesive failure was involved.