Prepared by

Dr: Gehaan el-oleimy

Lecture
Tarnish : is a surface discoloration on a
metal or even a slight loss of the surface
finish or luster.
May be due to
Soft deposits
Hard deposits
soft deposits may be in the form of plaques or
films of microorganisms and mucin. on the
surface of the restoration or the formation of
thin film of oxides, sulfides, or chlorides.
Calculus is considered to be the principal
hard deposits.
Corrosion :
is a disintegration of metal by chemical or
electrochemical reaction with its
environment. e.g.: eggs contain significant
amount of sulphur. These sulfides corrode
silver , copper, tin , mercury and similar
metals which are present in dental alloys and
amalgam.
Chemicals affecting the corrosion
1. Moisture. As it increase the conductivity
increase corrosion.
2. Natural salts e.g.: NaCl.
3. Nitric acid.
5. Alkaline at high concentration produce
localized corrosion.
6. Sulfurs produce corrosion of dental
amalgam
4. oxygen produce localized corrosion of the
stain less steel.
1- Composition, physical state, and
surface condition of the metal.
2- The presence of chemicals and their
concentration in the surrounding media.
3- Temperature of the media.
4- Nature and solubility of corrosion
products.

Chemical
(Dry)
Electrochemical
(Wet)
Chemical corrosion
It is the simplest type of corrosion. It is also
called uniform or dry corrosion.
It occurs on the surface only and can be
occurred in dry condition. In this type , there
is direct combination of metallic and
nonmetallic elements e.g.: oxidation,
halogenations or sulfurization reactions.
Electrochemical corrosion
Gold
cathode
(-)
Amalgam
anode
(+)
saliva
Heterogeneous structure
( stress corrosion )
Heterogeneous composition
Dissimilar metals ( Galvanic
corrosion )
Concentration cell corrosion
(crevice corrosion)
Electrochemical
corrosion
1- Heterogeneous structure
( stress corrosion ):
It means that the energy level of the material
is not uniform. The surface with high energy
level tends to give up electrons, and becomes
anode and corrodes. While the surface with
low energy level receives electrons, and
becomes cathode. e.g.: a metallic restoration
with one polished region and another
unpolished region.
Localized stress may be induced during
carving of deep pits and grooves that help the
surface to serve as an anode and show
corrosion.
In case of removable partial denture, the
clasp is subjected to repeated insertion and
removal, which create sever stress
concentration at the grain boundaries.
Therefore, this part acts as anode and show
corrosion while the remaining parts acts as
cathode and remain intact.
2- Heterogeneous composition
Alloy structure often has some area of
heterogeneous composition during
cooling process. e.g.: eutectic alloy has a
lower corrosion resistance than solid
solution. Cored structure has low
resistance to corrosion as there is
electrode potential difference between
the core and the grain matrix.
3- Dissimilar metals ( Galvanic corrosion ) :
This type of corrosion occurred when two
dissimilar metals present in direct
contact with each other and produce
galvanic shock. e.g.: amalgam
restoration and gold restoration are in
close proximity in the mouth.
Another example is a solder joint made
of metal that different from the
fractured metal.
4- Concentration cell corrosion
(crevice corrosion) :
Accumulation of food debris and dental
plaque in the inter-proximal surface in
proximal metallic restoration of a tooth,
The oxygen concentration under the plaque
is lower than that of the clean surface. The
metal under the plaque becomes anode and
show corrosion while the remaining surface
serve as a cathode.
1- by surface coating which can be
achieved by plating of metal by a noble
metal. However, the disadvantage of this
method is by scratching or damaging of
the surface, the scratched area becomes
anodic and subjected to accelerate
corrosion.
2- by passivation. It is a mechanism by
which the corrosion can be avoided by
addition of chromium to the alloys
e.g. st-st. Chromium in the alloy reacts
with oxygen and form chromium oxide
film that prevent the other elements of the
alloy to react with oxygen and so prevent
corrosion.
3- Elimination of galvanic current by using
only one metal. If a combination of metals
must be used , they should be as close possible
to each other in the electrode potential.
4- Coating the metal by varnish tends to
eliminate the galvanic shock.
5- The more homogeneous distribution of
metals atoms within the alloy, the less
tendency for corrosion. So, the
manufacturer should carry out
homogenization heat treatments to
eliminate any compositional difference.