Histological Analysis of the Embryonic and Adult Tooth

Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues by examining a thin slice of the tissue under the microscope. Prior to slicing/sectioning, most tissues require some form of solidifying to allow thin sections to be cut. However, since the tooth is the hardest substance in the vertebrate body, it is one of the most difficult tissues to process for histology. This chapter describes the methods used for making histological sections of tooth from different embryonic stages through to adulthood.