Visualization of human predentin and hypomineralized areas of dentin by silver methenamine staining

Abstract

– The light microscopic structure of human teeth was studied following silver methenamine staining, with and without previous oxidation in periodic acid. Predentin, hypomineralized dentin and carious dentin stained intensely, whereas highly mineralized dentin and calcospherites at the predentin‐dentin junction did not show any reactivity when observed in the light microscope, even following demineralization in strong acid or in EDTA. The reactive sites of the pulp were confined to nuclei, nuclcoli and a few thin fibers. This distribution of reactive sites is different from the distribution which is seen following von Kossa's silver stain, and from the distribution seen following silver stain methods for reticular fibers.

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“…Silver m e t h e n a m i n e was used to reveal pre-dentin and hypomineralized areas ( S o g a a r d - Pedersen, 1985). Collagen was stained with p i c r o -f u s c h i n (McManus & Mowry, 1960) and bacteria were stained with Brown and Brenn gram stain (Sheehan & Hrapchak, 1973).…”

Evaluation of silver methenamine method for nanoleakage

“…The aldehyde groups, in turn, reduce the silver nitrate or silver chloride to metallic silver. According to Sögaard-Pedersen, 24 the silver methenamine reactive sites in dentine and in pre-dentine are most likely to be unmineralised collagen fibrils, since silver methenamine stains these fibrils non-specifically.…”

Transmission electron microscope observations on enamel following silver methenamine staining

“…Previously published light, transmission, and scanning electron microscope observations (1)(2)(3) indicate that aldehyde groups on collagen fibers are directly and actively involved in the tnineralization of predentin.…”