Penetration of Silver Nitrate Into Dentin II

Abstract

Experiments were performed to study the mechanism of silver nitrate penetration into dentin. The experiments were carried out on six dogs and five humans. By cavity prepn. and fillings, degenerative changes were produced in the dentin. AgN03 soln. was applied to teeth which had undergone dentin degeneration, irregular dentin formation and pulp injury. As control AgNOs soln. was applied to sound vital dentin and dentin of pulpless teeth. Ground and decalcified sections were made from the teeth. There were no appreciable differences in the penetration of silver nitrate into degenerated dentin, sound dentin and dentin of pulpless teeth. It was concluded that the penetration of AgNO3 soln. into dentin is a phenomenon not necessarily associated with the flow of a tissue fluid but can be explained by laws governing the progress of a fluid through capillary channels.