Background: The importance of tooth sectioning
is realized in disasters such as earthquake, airplane
crash investigation, terror, micro leakage studies, age
estimation etc. The objective of this study was to develop
a simple method to make thin sections (approximately
100 mm) from freshly extracted teeth.
Methods: One hundred and twenty human premolars
recently extracted for orthodontic purpose were used for
this study. The teeth were stored in 0.5% chorlaramine
for 2 weeks and were not allowed to dry at any stage
of the experiment. The teeth were thoroughly washed
in distilled water teeth and then were sectioned
buccolingually from crown to the root portion.
Results: A detailed embedding-cutting-mounting
procedure is described. The prepared thin ground
sections were then examined under a Polarised light
microscope for the enamel and the dentine, as well as
the caries lesions can clearly be distinguished.
Conclusion: This is an effective and efficient method
for preparation of ground sections in which the hard
tissue details are preserved.