Aim: The present study attempts to plastinate selected oral specimens using four different methods for preserving them in pathology museums.
Background: Plastination is a relatively recent technique in which synthetic materials are used for the preservation of bodies and body parts. This process involves the replacement of water and lipids in biological tissues with curable polymers like polypropylene, polyester and epoxy resins which will then harden and finally result in natural-looking, dry and odorless specimens.
Technique: The oral specimens were selected and reduced to a cross-sectional thickness of about 1 cm. These specimens are then subjected to four different plastination techniques using different commercially available resins (plastic cups, epoxy resin, polyester resin, and polyester diecast resin). The tissue specimen was dehydrated, defatted and infused with resin following which, it was placed in a plastination box into which the resins are poured. The comparison of the efficiency of the different polymers in plastination was done.
Conclusion: Polyester dies cast resin provides the best results among the indigenous low-cost methods for plastination followed by polyester resin (GP resin), epoxy resin and plastic cup medium.
Clinical Significance: Plastination provides a new museum technique thereby, eliminating the drawbacks of the routine formalin preserved wet organs. It also proves to be an effective teaching aid to teach pathology in classrooms.
