Fine Incremental Lines Observed on the Surface-Overlapping Projections of Human Enamel after EDTA Etching

抄録

Previously, we found the fine incremental laminate lines with a prismless structure running transversely on the enamel surfaces in human teeth after phosphoric acid etching. In this scanning electron microscopic study, similar laminate structures ranging from about 0.5 to 1.5 μm in intervals were found on the enamel surface of a human permanent tooth after EDTA etching, although the structures were only formed on the small surface-overlapping projections which were present with Tomes' process pits. The laminate lines on the projections formed by the final stage of matrix deposition are probably the result of the sequential completion of ameloblast activity at the final stage, as the fine incremental lines on the enamel surfaces.