[Acid etching technic in the mixed dentition]

Clinical experience with defect and filling therapy has been good, even with deciduous teeth, a form of therapy which has not been considered promising because of the "prismless enamel of deciduous teeth". Examination with the scanning electron microscope supported our positive findings. If the aforementioned surface layer is removed mechanically prior to treatment with etching agents, the same retentive etching pattern could be obtained as was found on the remaining teeth. The best results were obtained with a 37% solution of phosphoric acid.