Mapping hard tissue maturation: the role of Gallego stain in differential staining

Histological stains are specific dyes that attach to different tissues and are used in conjunction with hematoxylin and eosin stains in routine histopathology to provide useful information on tissues. With the usual stains, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the different hard tissues present in oral pathological disorders. As one of the differential stains to discriminate between the hard tissues, modified Gallego's stain can be utilized. Maxilla and mandible of a 3-day-old rabbit are collected, followed by processing and embedding of the tissues, thin paraffin sections were made & stained with Modified Gallego's, and then viewed under the microscope. In the developing tooth germ, Dentin is stained green, and enamel is stained red in Modified Gallego staining. Modified Gallego staining facilitated the identification of the characteristics of hard and soft tissues during development and the changes in their behavior during maturation.