In 2003 researchers at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the NIH (National Institute of Health) reported for the first time that they discovered stem cells located in the dental pulp of deciduous (baby) teeth. These cells were called "SHED", meaning Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth. They used this term to distinguish these cells from the dental pulp tissue of adult teeth. Further research showed that the stem cells from human teeth could be made to grow into a variety of cell types corresponding to mature cells in the human.
In this 2003 paper, Dr. Shi wrote, "In theory, people could one day preserve , or bank, these stem cells when they have their wisdom teeth extracted, opening the door for biology based regenerative treatment later in life of advanced periodontal disease."
In 2004 scientists from the same Institute isolated human postnatal stem cells from the periodontal ligament, the tendon that holds our teeth in their sockets. Further research indicated that these cells could form periodontal ligament and cementum.
"That Day" is here. The interest with these discoveries is that these "stem cells" are easily and naturally obtained. When the deciduous tooth begins to loosen, the tooth can be removed and saved, processed and stored for future use. This is true not only with baby teeth, but also extracted wisdom teeth, and teeth removed for orthodontic reasons.
The process is quite simple. The tooth is removed by the dentist and carefully placed in a special shipping container. The container is sent to the processing/storage facility. Once at the facility, the tooth is processed and stem cells removed, cryopreserved and saved for future use.
There is more to this story. It seems as if these tooth stem cells, from deciduous or adult teeth, can be made to differentiate or change into a variety of of human tissues such as bone, dental tissue, cartiledge, muscle and possibly nerve tissue. The potential applications are increasing rapidly with work ongoing involving alziehemers, parkinson's, als, cardiac disease, joint disease, osteoporosis, spinal cord injury and nervous system disorders, brain injury as well as periodontal disease, maxillofacial reconstruction and even tooth growth! Work is also occurring for diabetes , involving the pancreas cells.
Stem cells are found in many other regions of the adult body, for example, during childbirth families are asked if they would like to save the umbilical cord blood for future use, as it contains stem cells. Great idea if it's not to late, "the baby is already born!" Teeth start to be lost around age 5-6 years and can be saved from that time onward.
I believe preserving teeth is something that we as parents can do for our children or grandchildren to help them if their is ever a need for future use. It is easy, convienient, non-controversial and could preserve a life!
For more information contact the office or:
www.ndpl.net
www.stemsave.com
www.bioeden.com
www.pubmed.gov
Types of Stem Cells:
• Pluri-potent – undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into
all of the specialized cell types in the body (EMBRYONIC)
• Multi-potent – undifferentiated cells found in differentiated
tissue that can trans-differentiate to yield many (but not all) of
the specialized cell types in the body (ADULT)
• Differentiated – stem cells that have fully developed into a
specialized cell type