Auger analysis of integuments formed on different dental filling materials in vivo

Abstract

Disks of gold, amalgam, composite material, silicate cement and a piece of enamel were carried in the mouth for 2 hours. The disks and the enamel piece were then submitted to Auger analysis in conjunction with Ar sputtering to obtain chemical depth profiles of the formed integuments. Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen were found as constituents of the surface layer on gold, amalgam, composite and enamel indicating an organic film on these surfaces. On silicate cement no such film could be detected. The depth profiles showed that both calcium and sulfur were differently distributed in the integuments. The elements copper, tin and silicium were found in the films on gold, amalgam and composite, respectively, thus corroborating earlier observations that the integuments on different materials vary in chemical composition.