title: [Morphological changes on gold-coated brass endodontic pins].
abstract: Scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with X-ray microanalysis (EDX) was used to study surface alterations of gold-coated brass dental pins (Dentatus), taken out after some years from restored teeth due to necessity for repeating a restorative therapy. The study method led to establish that: --the gold coating of the base material, constituted of copper alloy, absolutely insufficient to prevent corrosion attack; --the observed morphological alterations are the consequence of a localized corrosion attack, produced by anaerobic bacteria, which origin is confirmed by the presence of S on the most attacked points; --finally the corrosive phenomenon does not cause a periapical pathology, but the process is contrary, or rather, it is the pathology that leads to the favourable conditions to create corrosion.
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003343:Corrosion; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D003772:Dental Pins; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D006047:Gold Alloys; C048399:brass; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
vernacular_title: Studio di alterazioni morfologiche su perni endocanalari in ottone dorato.