TARNISH & CORROSION

Introduction Metals undergo chemical reactions with non-metallic elements in the environment to produce chemical compounds commonly known as corrosion products. These compounds may accelarate ,retard or have no influence on the subsequent deterioration of metal surface. The rusting of iron is a familiar example of the effects that may be produced by such process. One of the primary requests of any metal that is to be used in mouth is that it must not produce corrosion products that will be harm full to the body. f the corrosion process is not too marked, these products may not be reorganised easily. t is unfortunate that the oval environment is very conductive tot he formations of corrosion products. The mouth is moist and certainly sub!ected to fluctuation in temperature. The food and liquids ingested have wide ranges of p". #cids are liberated during the breakdown of foodstuffs. This food debris often adheres tenaciously to the metallic restoration, thus producing a locali$ed condition that is extremely conductive to an accelerated reaction between corrosion products and the metal or alloy. #ll of these environmental factors contribute to the degrading process known as corrosion.

&old resist chemical attack of this nature very well, therefore it was natural that this nobilest of the metals was employed early for the construction of dental appliances. Definition Tarnish is a surface discoloration on a metal or even slight or activation of the surface finish or luster. Corrosion: n the specific sense is not merely a surface deposit but is an actual determination of a metal by reaction with its environment. Terminology Tarnish: t is the process by which a metal surface is dulled in tightness or discolored through the formation of a chemical film such as a 'ulphide or an Oxide. Corrosion: # chemical or electrochemical process through which a metal is attacked by a natural agents such as air and water, resulting in partial or complete dissolution deterioration, or weakening of any solid substances. (orrosion is an actual deterioration of the metal by reaction with its environment it can be defined as a chemical reaction between a metal and its environment to form metal compounds.

Concentration Cell #n electrochemical corrosion cell in which the potential differences is associated with the difference in the concentration of dissolved species, such as oxygen, in the solution at different parts of the metal surface. Crevice corrosion #ccelerated corrosion in a narrow spaces caused by locali$ed electrochemical processes and chemical changes, such as acidification and depletion in its oxygen content crevice corrosion commonly occurs when a leakage takes place between restoration and the tooth, under a pellicle or under other surface deposits. alvanic Corrosion #n accelerated attack occurring on a noble metal when electrochemical dissimilar metals are in electrical content is the presence of a liquid corrosive environment. alvanic Shoc! # pin sensation caused by electric current generated by a contact between two dissimilar metals forming a battery in the oval environment.

"itting Corrosion s a locali$ed corrosion occurring on baser metals such as iron, nickel, and chromium, which are protected by a naturally forming a thin film of an oxide. n the presence of chlorides in the environment the film locally breaks down and rapid dissolution of the underlying metal occurs in the form of pits. Stress corrosion +egradation by the combined effects of mechanical stress and a corrosive environment, usually in the form of cracking. Causes of Tarnish and Corrosion: Causes of tarnish %, -ormation of hard and soft deposits on a surface of the restoration. ), (alculus is the principle hard deposit and its color varies from light yellow to brown. *, t.s color varies also with oval hygiene of the patient and is specially dark in the mouth of a heavy smoker. /, The soft deposits are plaques and films composed mainly of microorganisms and mean. Tarnish may be found anywhere in the mouth but are more optional to be as surfaces that are protected from the abrasive actions of food and the toothbrush.

Causes of Tarnish and Corrosions # differentiation should be shade between tarnish and corrosion. 0ven though there is a definite technical difference, it is difficult clinically to distinguish between the two phenomena, and the terms are often used interchangeably in dental literature. %. (orrosion is caused especially with surfaces under stress or with intergranular rupurities is the metal or with corrosion products that do not completely cover the substrate metal, the corrosion activate rate may actually increase with time. n due course it causes severe and catastrophic disintegration of to metal body. n addition, corrosion attack that is extremely locali$ed may cause rapid mechanical factor at a structure even though the metal loss of material is quit small. ). +isintegration of a metal may occur through the action of moisture, atmosphere, acid or alkaline solutions, and certain chemicals. *. Tarnish is often the forerunner of corrosion the film that is deposited and produces tarnish may in time forms or accumulate elements or compounds that chemically attack the metallic surface for example, eggs and certain other foods contain significant amount of sulfur various sulfhides, such as

hydrogen or ammonium sulfide, corrode silver, copper, mercury, and similar metals present in dental alloys and amalgam. /. #lso water, oxygen and chloride ions are present in saliva and contribute to corrosion attack. 2arious acids such as phosphoric, acetate and lactic acids are present at times. #t the proper concentrations and p" there can lead to corrosions. Classification of corrosion There are two general classification of corrosion reactions. %. (hemical corrosion ). 0lectrolytic 3or, electrochemical corrosion. 4nder electrolytic corrosion we have / types of corrosions. a, (orrosion found with a combination of dissimilar metals. b, (orrosion due to heterogeneous compounds of the metal surface. c, (orrosion due to presence of homogenous in homogenous surface texture. d, -ourth type is concentrations cell corrosion. Chemical corrosion n chemical corrosion there is a direct combination of metallic and nonmetallic elements.

This type is exemplified by: a, Oxidation b, 'talogenation c, 'ulfuri$ation reactions 1st Example +iscolouration of silver by sulfur. The formation of #g ' in this reaction is chemical corrosion silver sulfide appears to be the principle corrosions product of dental alloy that contains silver. 'uch corrosion is also referred to as 6dry7 corrosion, since it occurs in the absence of water or other fluid electrolytes. #lectrolytic or #lectrochemical corrosion $or% &et corrosion This type is also referred as wet corrosion since it requires the presence of water or other fluid electrolytes. t also requires a pathway for the transport of electrons, an electrical current, if the process is to continue. The starting point for the discussion of electrolytic corrosion is to electrolytic cell composed of by components. %. The auscle is the surface where positive ions a formed, that is the metal surface which is corroding.

). #t the cathode a reaction must occur that will consume the free electrons produced at the anode. *. The electrolytic sever to supply the ions that are needed at the cathode and to early way the corrosion products at the anode. /. The external circuit serves as a conduction path to early electrons 3electric current, from the anode to the cathode. Current Consuming $#lectrolytic cells% (onsider an electrolyte containing anions M9 and anions #- if two electronic conductors or electrodes are placed in this electrolyte and an electric potential difference established between then by battery, then movement of ions will occur. (ontains more to the negatively charged electrode or cathode and anions move to the anode or positively charged electrode. 'uch a process is called electrolysis. The following reaction can be written for the above discussion. #t the cathode #t the anode : M9 9 electrons ; M : # - ; #9 electron

#n anodic reaction, then is one that produces electrons whereas a cathode process consumes electons.

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Current "roducing $ alvanic Cells% (onsider now two electrodes of different metals. 0g. (opper and =inc, immersed in an electrolyte of sulphuric acid when electrical contact is made between the electrodes, a current will flow. #s discussed previously, electrons are produced at the anode and consumed at its cathode. This is an example of a galvanic or corrosion cell. =inc are being converted to $inc ions 3i.e. essentially an oxidation reaction, and passes into solution. Thus $inc in being corroded. Thus according to this theory, if two metals are universal in an electrolyte and are connected by an electrical conductor, an electrical cocycle is formed. The metal with the lowest electrode potential goes into the solution. The strength and direction of the current thus depends primarily upon the electrode potential of the individual metals. I' alvanic Corrosion $Dissimilar metals% "ere the dental reference is to separate restorations in which the metal surfaces are chemically dissimilar. The metallic combinations that produce electrogalvanism 3or, 6galvanic currents7 may or may not be intermittent contact. 0xamples of galvanic corrosion. +ifference in composition of materials.

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%. f a gold inlay comes in contact with an amalgam restoration, because both restorations are wet with saliva, an electrical couple exists, with difference in potential between in dissimilar restorations. Difference in alloy gram ). n a cored structure, differ as in composition with in the alloy grain are found. Thus part of a grain can be the anode and other part cathode. ?hen the teeth are not in contact, the difference in electric potential 3or, electromotive force between the two fillings still exists, thus a circuit also exists. n this core, the saliva forms the electrolyte, and the hard and soft tissues can consists the external circuit internal and external depending an a contact. *. # single metallic restorations showing two possible pathways between an external surface exposed to saliva and interior surface exposed to dentinal fluid. @ecause dentinal fluid contains higher (l- concentrations than does saliva it is assumed that the electrode potential of interior surface is more active. II' Corrosion in Heterogeneous Com(osition # second type of electrolytic corrosion is that due to heterogeneous compositions of the metal surface. 0xample of this type may be the intectic and peritectic alloys. %A

?hen an alloy containing a extentic is immersed is an electrolyte, the metallic grains with the less electrode potential are attacked and corrosion results. Bike wise, in a solid solution, any cored structure is less resistant to corrosion than the homogeni$ed structure because of difference in electrode potential. 0ven an homogeni$ed solid solution in some what susceptible to corrosion because of the difference in structure between the grains and their boundaries. The grains boundaries may act as anodes and the interior of the grains as the cathode. This results in the corrosion of the material in the anodic region at the grain boundaries. III' Inhomogeneous Surface # third conductors that produces electrolytic corrosion in the presence o an inhomogeneous surface structure. # common situation for this type of corrosion would be an amalgam restorations with polished and unpolished area.

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This type is primarily with a stress condition in the alloy or metal. -or example, even in a pure metal not previously sub!ected for external forces, a certain amount of stress is always present. Stress corrosion On most dental appliances, the deleterious effect of stress and corrosion are most optional to occur because of fatigue of the metal when associated with a corrosive environment. Ceported removal and insertion of a partial denture, for example, may build up a severe stress pattern in certain types of alloys especially at the grain boundaries combined with an oral condition that promotes corrosion, the stressed appliance develops stress corrosion. 'light surface irregulation at that point, such as pit, can accelerate the process, so that ordinary fatigue starts below the normal limit and failure results. 'tress corrosion is characteri$ed by the fast that external fracture occurs intergranularly. I)' Concentration cell com(osition or Crevice corrosion This situation exists whenever there are variations in the electrolytic or in the composition of the given electrolyte with the system. -or example, there are often occumulations of food debris in the interproximal areas of the mouth, particularly if oral hygiene is poor. %)

This debris produced one type of electrolyte in that area and the normal saliva provides another electrolyte at the occlusal surface. Therefore electrolyte corrosions occurs. # similar type of attack may be produced from differences in oxygen tension between parts of restorations. # cell is produced with greatest activity occurring around the areas containing the least oxygen. rregularities, such as points, contribute to this phenomenon. The areas at the bottom of the surface concavities do not have oxygen because they are covered with food debris and mucin. The material at the bottom of the pit then becomes the anode and the material at the periphery the cathode. n this manner, metal atoms at the base of the pit ionise and go into solution, causing the pit to deeper. The rate of such corrosion may be very rapid, and failure may occur much before what would be anticipated if only a uniform surface attack were expected. -or this reason, all metallic dental restoration materials should be polished for example, a polished amalgam restoration will corrode less than one left unpolished.

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*ulti(le corrosion (rocess + Com(le, corrosion ?hen different types of corrosion occurs together in a same restoration, it is called as 6complex corrosions7. This situation can be illustrated by dissimilar metal corrosion between an inlay and an amalgam restoration. Owing to the surface changes than can occur during this type of electrolyte corrosion, difference in oxygen tension arise. #t same time, if the corrosion product layer is incomplete or porous, an inhomogeneous surface results that produce new corrosion cells. Corrosion Characteristics of Dental Amalgams +ental amalgams are most susceptible to chloride corrosion then most other dental materials. The conventional ) containing amalgams corrode along the networks of the thermodynamically lean stable ) 3tin D mercury, phase. The high copper ) free amalgams are more corrosion resistant, but they also suffer deterioration, the least stable being the 3copper tin, phase. The ) containing amalgams exhibit a clearly defined breakdown potential. The protective film of tin oxide breaks down main corrosion products are tin D oxide and tin chloride hydroxide. (orrosion resistance of are

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amalgams is decreased by porosity. The corrosion damage causes loss of strength. The most intensive corrosion takes place in the areas of the margins. #nother type of attack observed on occlusal surface is the grain boundary corrosion of the % 3silver mercury, phase 30spevik and M!or %>8>,. (orrosion is thus thought to be one of the ma!or causes of the breakdown of restoration margins. The high copper ) free amalgams are most resistant to both corrosion and breakdown of margins. Corrosion Characteristics of No-el Dental Alloys &old alloys conforming to #+# specification Eo. 1 3more than 81F gold and platinum gp metals, are highly resistant in the oral environment to electrochemical forms of deterioration. Their resistance is due to thermodynamic stability of the noble elements, which dominates the behaviour of the essentially single phase materials. The resistance to chloride corrosion decreases as the gold and platinum gp metal content of the alloy decreases.

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'ilver is attacked by the oral environment, but its resistance to chloride corrosion can be substantially improved by alloying with palladium, which includes passivation. Eoble dental alloys are relatively resistant to occluded cell corrosion because the electrochemical reactions that take place do not result in an increase in acidity with in the cell. Corrosion Characteristics of .ase *etal Alloys (obalt, Eickel, ron and Titanium as well as the ma!or elements used in their alloys. 'uch as chromium molybdenum, vanadium and aluminium are base metals that are not thermodynamically stable in oral environment. The corrosion resistance of there alloys is because of the formation of a protective passive film. +ue to the presence of chlorides in the oral environment, passivating alloys are potentially susceptible to pitting corrosion. The corrosion resistance of nickel based dental alloys is mainly a function of the chromium content. Titanium and its alloys are highly resistant to chloride corrosion because of the superior properties of the passive film. @ase alloys are not susceptible to sulphade tranishing.

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"rotection Against Corrosion (hoice of alloy #lloy for long term use in mouth must be either. %, Eoble or ), Gassive /% No-le Eoble metals are those such as gold, platinum and palladium. +ental alloys contain some copper which has poorer corrosion resistance, however, such alloys must contain at least 8A-81F noble metals. -or this reason it is estimated that at least half the metals in dental alloy should be gold, with platinum and palledium to insure against corrosion. 'ilver 'ulphide appears to be the common corrosions product of gold alloys that contain silver, palladium tends to retard the formation of silver sulphide and thus has become a common addition to silver containing dental gold alloys. 0% "assive alloys (ertain metal develop a protective coating by oxidation, or some other chemical reaction, which protects them from further corrosion, such a metal is said to be passive chromium is the best example of passivity. This important metal does not readily corrode because it has already corroded, so rapidly and

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so uniformly that the film of corrosion product formed does not mar its reflectivity. t is probably, that this film consists of either a continuous layer of adsorbed oxygen or a closely packed chromic oxide with each molecule being oriented so that the oxygen is on the outside. # coating of a noble metal applied to the surface of a second metal may be used to prevent corrosion. The coating material must be less active than the base metal. f a noble metal eating is applied to the base metal surface and becomes scratched or pitted to such a depth that the base metal is exposed to the environment, the base metal will be corroded at a rapid rate. Goints or other types of inorganic or organic coatings behave as noble coatings. Clinical Significance of alvanic Currents

t has been proved that small galvanic currents associated with electro galvanium are continually present in the oral cavity. #s long as metallic dental restorative materials are employed, these seems to be little possibility that these galvanic currents can be eliminated.

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The cement base itself, although it is a good thermal insulator has little effect in minimi$ing the current that is carried into the tooth and through the pulp. 4ntil materials or techniques are developed that will provide perfect adaptation to the cavity walls, the possibility of blocking such currents is highly unlikely. n a situation in which metallic restoration is extremely close to the pulp, the current concentration and pulpal stimulation may be reduced some what by replacing the deepest portion of the metal restoration with a lower conduction base material. #lthough the post operative pain due to galvanic shock is not a common occurrence in the dental office, it can be real source of discomfort to patients. "owever, such post operative pain usually occurs immediately after insertion of a new restorative and generally, it gradually subsides and disappears in a few days. t has often been suggested that the reason the pain does not last indefinitely is became of the formation of a layer of tarnish on the restoration or that the cemetal base such as =n-oxide eugenol cement, becomes a better insulator as setting progresses.

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Gractically the best method for reducing or eliminating galvanic shock seems to be a paint or external varnish on the surface of the restoration. #s long as the varnish remains, the restorations is insulated from saliva and no cell is established. @y the time the varnish has worn away. The pulp has usually healed sufficiently so that no pain is experienced by the patient. Summary and Conclusion (orrosion is obviously undesirable, as it can spoil the aesthetics of an alloy, and in extreme cases can severely weaken the material. "ence the very important requirement of any metal or the alloy that is to be used in the mouth is that it should not produce corrosions products that will be harmful to the structure. n addition to choosing the best materials, alloy must be used correctly, and is situations which are likely to lead to corrosion must be avoided as far as possible.

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