Which of the following does acid etching NOT do?

Acid etching is a well-established technique primarily used to enhance the surface characteristics of dental materials, particularly enamel and dentin. The primary purpose of this procedure is to increase the surface area and create micro-roughened surfaces that improve mechanical interlocking for bonding agents.

When we consider the functions performed by acid etching, the correct response here indicates that acid etching does not create a bond chemically. Instead, it plays a crucial role in preparing the tooth surface by increasing surface area and generating micro-tags—these are microscopic projections that the bonding agent can infiltrate, enhancing the physical bond between the dentin/enamel and the restorative material.

Chemical bonding typically involves a molecular interaction between materials, which is not achieved through the acid etching process. Therefore, while acid etching facilitates improved mechanical bonding via increased surface area and texture, it does not create a chemical bond itself. Thus, the assertion that acid etching creates a bond chemically is fundamentally inaccurate, making it the correct answer to the question posed.