DISCOLORATION OF TEETH BY METALLIC IONS

¹ Eastman Dental Dispensary, Rochester, N. Y.

1. The crown and root surfaces of intact teeth were treated with solutions of cupric sulfate, ferric nitrate, stannous chloride, silver nitrate, mercuric chloride, and lead nitrate and subsequently exposed to a sulfur-containing medium.

2. The formation of a dark metallic sulfide in each case indicated that all the metallic nations were taken up by the tooth structures.

3. The degree of discoloration gauged by inspection was substantiated by quantitative readings taken with a photometer which measured directly in foot lamberts the amount of light reflected from a given surface.

4. The degree of discoloration was affected by the pH of the solutions used and was generally more marked on the root surfaces than on the crowns. Areas which had been pre-etched showed a greater tendency toward marked discoloration.