Visualization of the dentogingival junction using micro-plastination technique

Abstract

Plastination has revolutionized the field of anatomy and research by providing biosecurity and enabling the long-term preservation of biological material, ranging from entire bodies to individual organs and even micron sections. The dentogingival junction (DGJ) consists of both epithelial and connective tissues that are closely related to the tooth's mineralized tissues. Cutting-grinding techniques are commonly used to visualize DGJ histology. These techniques exclude enamel from preparations and focus on visualizing hard or soft tissues. To improve the micro-anatomical and histological study of this region, we applied micro-plastination technique to obtain micro-thin slices below 150 μm thick from human and animal samples. The DGJ microanatomy was visualized by applying histological stains to the micro-plastinated slices, highlighting the technique's endogenous autofluorescence capacity identifying periodontal tissues, including dentin, enamel, cementoenamel junction, dentinal tubules, connective tissue, and collagen. Based on our results, we confirm that micro-plastination is a useful technique for visualizing anatomical regions that are difficult to access, such as the DGJ. Micro-plastination can be used as an alternative technique, providing a new approach for its application in anatomical and morphological research protocols.