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The discoloration of tooth roots is rare. We report here a 22-year-old Japanese woman with blackish-brown staining of the roots of the upper and lower third molars. Staining was found in the dentin and cementum. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis showed no significant difference in the composing elements between the stained tooth root and control tooth. Fluorescent bands coincided with staining in the dentin of the root and cementum along the incremental lines under confocal laser-scanning microscope.

A histopathological and analytical study of a permanent tooth from a patient with cleidocranial dysostosis (CCD) was performed. The patient was a 47-year-old woman, who had 10 erupted permanent teeth and 2 partially erupted and 19 completely impacted teeth, including supernumerary teeth. The erupted right upper premolar was extracted and observed using a light microscope and an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA). Findings showed enamel hypoplasia, predominantly irregular globular dentin and Tomes' granular layer, and a complete lack of cellular cementum in the ground section. The incremental von Ebner and counter Owen lines were obscure. Comparative quantitative analysis using the EPMA showed that the quantities of calcium and phosphate were lower in the enamel and dentin than those of the control sample.

A case of giant cell fibroma of the oral mucosa found in a 3-year-old female is reported. The lesion was characterized histologically by the presence of numerous large stellate cells and multinucleated giant cells scattered in a loosely arranged collagen-background. The large stellate cells had a large hyperchromatic nucleus, while the cytoplasm was well demarcated and frequently the cells had dendritic-like processes. The multinucleated giant cells had similar morphology and occasionally resembled Langhans' giant cells. Ultrastructural examination suggested that the multinucleated giant cells in the lesion were unusual fibroblasts. This is the first reported case of oral giant cell fibroma in a Japanese patient.