Silver Impregnation of Nerve Fibers in Teeth After Decalcification With Ethylenediaminetetraacetic ACID

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Abstract
The difficulties in impregnating bony tissues, which occur after decalcification with acids or electrolysis are avoided by decalcification with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at pH 8.2-8.5. The decalcification of adult human teeth which have been cut to a thickness of 2-5 mm takes 1-2 mo. If frozen sections of the decalcified teeth are impregnated 24 hr in 20% AgNo3, rinsed through 6 changes of 20% neutralized (CaCO3) formalin, blotted thoroughly with a cloth and placed in an ammoniated silver solution for 15-20 min, reliable impregnation of nerve fibers is obtained. The stock ammoniated silver solution is prepared by adding concentrated NH4OH to 10-20 ml of 20% AgNO3 until the precipitate formed by it is dissolved and then adding a few drops of the silver solution until the first permanent opalescence of the mixture is obtained. From this 2 ml are diluted directly before use with 6 ml of distilled water and 4 drops of concentrated NH4OH added. The diluted stock solution should be used for few (5-10) sections only. The rest of the technic is done in the routine manner.