[A scanning electromicroscopic determination of the depth of penetration of dental enamel adhesives in the etched enamel].

The surface tension of the liquid preservative was held responsible for the loss of plastic tags in the penetration zone between sealer and enamel due to the preparation. This loss is demonstrable with fluorescence, interference, and polarization microscopy. With the help of freeze-drying procedures, tags of approximately 200 mum could be exposed and photographed with the scanning electron microscope.