Acid-Assisted Consolidation of Silver Alloys for Direct Fillings.

Silver-rich metal powders cold-welded by consolidation have been investigated as possible direct dental filling material. The surface of the silver powder must undergo an acid treatment to remove existing contaminants and prevent formation of new surface contaminants during consolidation. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the acid treatment on the strength of the consolidated alloy, its reactivity with the surrounding tooth structure, and its reactions with certain cavity liners.