Application of fluorescence microscopy on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of healthy and diseased teeth and supporting structures.

Destruction of dental tissue and supporting structures is usually microscopically assessed by routine hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections. This short communication is concerned with the potential role of fluorescence microscopy of HE-stained sections to study morphological aspects of intact and pathological teeth in dental research. This methodology improves the visualization of the anatomical structures of the intact teeth, especially anatomical features and periodontal ligament spatial distribution. This technique also improves the visualization of the root and bone resorption and the delineation of the periapical lesion extension. The fluorescence microscopy technique of HE-stained sections is an easy, reliable and inexpensive method that seems to be a useful tool for evaluating morphological aspects of intact and pathological teeth in dental research.