Comparative Assessment of pH and Degree of Surface Roughness of Enamel When Etched with Five Commercially Available Etchants: An In Vitro Study
J Contemp Dent Pract . 2022 Feb 1;23(2):181-185. Abstract Aim: To evaluate the pH and degree of surface roughness caused by five commercially and readily available etchants on tooth enamel. Materials and methods: Five different etchants were chosen. An electric pH meter was utilized to test the pH of the etchants employed. Fifteen maxillary bicuspids that had been extracted were cleansed and stored in thymol solution. The samples were sorted into five groups of three each. A noncontact profilometer was employed to assess the microsurface changes of the pre-etched enamel. The teeth were then etched for 30 seconds with respect to the group to which they belonged before being cleaned and dried. The surface roughness after etching was analyzed, measured and values were tabulated. Descriptive statistics and paired t -test were done. Results: The pH of the etchants and surface roughness of the enamel are varied across the five groups, though they have the same composition of 37% ortho
