Summary:
Purpose: to test reactions of silver cones in clinical situations under SEM.
- N= 13 silver cones removed from 12 patients.
Materials/Methods:
- 13 silver points were removed from 12 patients had been in place in the root canal from 9 months to 15 years.
- 4 cases were asymptomatic with no abnormalities, 1 case showed indistinct lamina dura, 5 cases were asymptomatic with PA pathosis, 1 case had overextended cone (2.5 mm), one was underextened (2.5mm).
- Analyses with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the X-ray microprobe were performed.
- tissue section from a biopsy specimen of case no. 1 was examined in the Xray analyzer and under SEM.
Most highlighted Results:
- Clinically, the cones showed surface changes ranging from dull to black and pitted.
- By SEM, the cones showed corrosive changes from pitting to deep circumferential erosion.
- Sulfur and silver were localized in biopsy tissue from the periapex that was associated with severe surface erosion.
- Measurement of sulfur and chlorine with the X-ray microprobe showed that these elements are present with decreasing concentrations at greater distances from the apex.
Clinical significance:
The results of this study indicate that silver cones undergo moderate to severe deterioration when placed as endodontic filling materials.
