Figure 1.

Surface characteristics of elastomeric ligatures after magnetron sputtering with silver and bismuth. (a) True‐color surface imaging shows the silver and bismuth nanofilms of the specimens. Uncoated controls show ubiquitous scratches and dents, silver coating is finer in structure with visible scratches and pits, bismuth coating displays the most homogeneous surface. (b) Three‐dimensional surface texture reveals smoother surfaces of silver‐coated specimens compared to bismuth‐coated and uncoated specimens indicated by peaks with small amplitudes.