Figure 2.

The panel, to be read horizontally, depicts the SEM backscattered electrons micrographs (500× and 5000×, respectively) and EDS elemental maps (5000×) of the specimen surfaces. The EDS maps are additionally presented as single-channel maps to better identify the topographical presence of each element. The first two rows of the panel display the surfaces of the vacuum-dried toothpastes tested in this study: α toothpaste (containing Zn-carbonate substituted n-HAp) and β toothpaste (containing F, Mg, Sr-carbonate substituted n-HAp). Their aspect is very similar, showing silica microparticles (identified by Si signal) and clusters of n-HAp (identified by Ca and P signals). Zn and Sr signals were below the detection limits in mapping mode and were not displayed. The last two rows of the panel represent the surfaces of the tested restorative material after treatment with the toothpastes: RBC + α toothpaste and RBC + β toothpaste. The RBC composition included silica particles (identified by Si signal), and alumina and barium glass micro and nanoparticles (identified by Al and Ba signals). Ca signal was displayed as a marker of toothpaste remnants. It is noteworthy that toothpaste remnants could be associated with alumina and barium glass fillers rather than silica particles.