The ultrastructure and hardness of the transparent layer of human carious dentin.

The ultrastructure of the transparent layer of carious dentin was investigated in relation to hardness. This layer was the deeper part of the intermediately-softened inner carious dentin. Intratubular deposition of fine crystals was initially observed at the uppermost layer of normal dentin, increased in the subtransparent layer, and gradually shifted to deposition of rhomboid-shaped crystals in the transparent layer. Crystals were not seen in the tubules in the overlying discolored layer. Softening, due to demineralization of the intertubular and peritubular dentin, started at the bottom of the subtransparent layer and increased in the outward direction.