The colors of silver with silver nitrate staining in dental materials

Silver nitrate has been used as a stain to study the permeability, degradation, and marginal integrity of dental composite restorations. The reagent results in various colors in the composite or marginal interface. So that the cause of these colors could be investigated, this study compared the appearances of the stained layers by light and electron microscopy. The results indicated that the colors could be explained by the distribution of silver particles ranging from minute colloidal particles (20 nm) in the composite or dentin, to clusters of large particles (0.1-1 micron) in marginal interfaces. The colors can be explained by the absorption and scattering of light by these particles. At elevated temperatures, fused concretions of silver formed in the composite subsurface, resulting in direct reflection of incident light. The colors which appear with silver nitrate staining may indicate the size and distribution of microporosity in the material.