"Smear Layer" is a descriptor in the National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus,
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). Descriptors are arranged in a hierarchical structure,
which enables searching at various levels of specificity.
Adherent debris produced when cutting the enamel or dentin in cavity preparation. It is about 1 micron thick and its composition reflects the underlying dentin, although different quantities and qualities of smear layer can be produced by the various instrumentation techniques. Its function is presumed to be protective, as it lowers dentin permeability. However, it masks the underlying dentin and interferes with attempts to bond dental material to the dentin.
| Descriptor ID |
D016369
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| MeSH Number(s) |
C07.793.208.688
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| Concept/Terms |
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Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Smear Layer".
Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Smear Layer".
This graph shows the total number of publications written about "Smear Layer" by people in this website by year, and whether "Smear Layer" was a major or minor topic of these publications.
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Below are the most recent publications written about "Smear Layer" by people in Profiles.
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Effects of common dental materials used in preventive or operative dentistry on dentin permeability and remineralization. Oper Dent. 2011 Mar-Apr; 36(2):222-30.
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Dentine desensitization induced by prophylactic and air-polishing procedures: an in vitro dentine permeability and confocal microscopy study. J Dent. 2010 May; 38(5):411-22.