Stained Ground Sections of Teeth and Bone

Abstract

Formalin-fixed rat hemimandibles were ground to approximately 80μ with the aid of a diamond disc attached to a dental handpiece. A 1/10-hp motor attached to the handpiece by a pulley powered the disc to speeds up to 4000 rev/min. Contact between the hemimandible, which was placed on water-moistened cork, and the diamond disc was made possible through manipulation of the handpiece. The ground sections obtained by this procedure were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff for microscopic study. The fine structure of mineralized tissues (teeth and bones) as well as related soft structures, e.g., blood vessels, endosteum, pulp, etc., were demonstrated. The procedure did not require the embedding of the tissue nor were complicated grinding devices necessary.