[Morphological changes on gold-coated brass endodontic pins]

Minerva Stomatol. 1995 Jun;44(6):273-83.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with X-ray microanalysis (EDX) was used to study surface alterations of gold-coated brass dental pins (Dentatus), taken out after some years from restored teeth due to necessity for repeating a restorative therapy. The study method led to establish that: --the gold coating of the base material, constituted of copper alloy, absolutely insufficient to prevent corrosion attack; --the observed morphological alterations are the consequence of a localized corrosion attack, produced by anaerobic bacteria, which origin is confirmed by the presence of S on the most attacked points; --finally the corrosive phenomenon does not cause a periapical pathology, but the process is contrary, or rather, it is the pathology that leads to the favourable conditions to create corrosion.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Corrosion
  • Dental Alloys / chemistry*
  • Dental Pins*
  • Electron Probe Microanalysis
  • Gold Alloys / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Surface Properties
  • Time Factors
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Dental Alloys
  • Gold Alloys
  • brass
  • Copper
  • Zinc