[Enamel etching for conservative dental treatment].

The enamel etching technique has contributed towards better retention and smaller cavities, and towards less microfissures at the cavity margins. The different etching acids and their concentration are described, and their function illustrated by EM photographs. Phosphoric acid of a concentration between 37 and 50% seems to give the best results. The morphology of the etched surface and the measurements of the degree of adhesion of different composites suggest that the use of bonding agents is not imperative. The practical indications for the etching technique in the dental office are described.