A COMPARATIVE HISTOLOGIC STUDY OF HUMAN PERIODONTAL STRUCTURES UTILIZING FLUORESCENCE AND VISIBLE LIGHT MICROSCOPY

¹ Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Human periodontal structures were sectioned and stained for histologic observations with both fluorescence and visible light microscopic technics.

Primary fluorescence of unstained sections of periodontal structures is unsatisfactory for histologic study.

Separate and combined fluorochromes were utilized at varying pH values to determine the most efficient technics applicable to this type of research. Fluorchromation of histologic sections of the periodontium reveals interesting secondary fluorescence colors. These colors differ according to pH values of the stain.

The attachment of the secondary cuticle to the cementum surface is clearly revealed by the fluorescence microscope. Similar sections prepared with hematoxylin and eosin and Mallory's triple connective tissue stains and examined by visible light microscopy do not show differentiation of the cuticle-cemental interface as well.

Morphological details of the cellular elements of connective tissues were better differentiated with conventional staining methods utilized in visible light microscopy.