Elements in marginal seals at amalgam-tooth interfaces

X-ray micro-analysis was used to determine the elemental composition of the tooth, amalgam, and base material of ten aged, amalgam-restored, posterior teeth after they had been fractured across the amalgam-tooth interface. Subsequently, replicas were used to remove marginal seal material from each interface for examination by x-ray micro-analysis. The results show that P and Sn were present in all marginal seal material analyzed. Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, S, and Zn were present in the marginal seals of various numbers of specimens.