A unique method to study different histological structures using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining in partially decalcified ground sections of teeth : A research article

Introduction: Examining the tooth is considered as foremost segment in research in the field of oral biology and oral pathology. For studying various structures like enamel, dentin and cementum, ground section of teeth is used, while decalcified sections of tooth are used for studying the soft tissues. Objective: The present study was aimed at exploring the normal structures of hard tissue parts of the teeth where partially decalcified ground sections were stained them with routine hematoxylin and eosin stain. Methodology: For the present study, a total of 30 extracted teeth were collected. The freshly prepared ground sections were partly decalcified by putting ground sections of teeth in 10% nitric acid for a time period of 20- 25 seconds. After this, the ground sections of teeth are washed in tap water. The partly decalcified ground sections of teeth were stained with routine hematoxylin and eosin staining procedure and were mounted on clean glass slides using DPX mounting media. The sections were then analyzed for various histological structures under the microscope. Results: When hematoxylin and eosin stained partially decalcified ground sections of teeth were viewed under light microscope, variety of histological structures appeared as stained, while some structures did not take stain and remain unstained. Conclusion: After preparing and staining the ground section of teeth by our method, we hope that it would be of great help for undergraduate students and to some extent the research scholars to understand the various structures of the teeth in a better and easy way.