The determination of the electrical potential of a metallic restoration in the oral cavity.

An improved method for measuring the electrical potential of a metallic restoration is proposed and tested. Care was taken to avoid disturbing the restoration surface, hence it was not cleaned or dried. The probe tip was a gold-plated pin, insulated from the saliva by soft wax. The probe was pressed through the wax on the restoration just before measurement. An Ag/AgCl reference electrode was in contact with the saliva. The probe and the tip of the reference electrode were disposable.