Journal of Dental Research, Vol 65, 1441-1444, Copyright © 1986 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
A measurement of galvanic current and electrical potential in extracted human teeth
Y. Momoi, A. Asanuma, A. Kohno and K. Yanagisawa
When opposing teeth with amalgam and gold restoration are in contact,
current flows in the mouth at the instant the dissimilar metals touch. In
this study, this condition was simulated by use of resistors and extracted
human teeth with amalgam and MOD gold inlay restorations. When both teeth
were in contact in a physiological saline solution, we measured current and
electrical potential generated in each pulp chamber. Galvanic current
generated in the tooth with amalgam was always larger (as much as 18.2
times at the instant of contact) than that in the tooth with gold.
Electrical potential generated in the tooth with amalgam was always larger
(as much as 9.7 times at the instant of contact) than that in the tooth
with gold. It should be emphasized that the larger current generated in the
tooth with amalgam was caused mainly by its larger electrical potential.
These results correspond well with the clinical phenomenon of galvanic
pain, which occurs in the tooth with amalgam rather than in the tooth with
gold.
