The National Institute of Health recently discovered powerful stem cells in the pulp of healthy teeth. Medical researches around the world are working today to develop effective new treatments from stem cells for a wide range of disease and injuries. Their exciting discoveries place Dentist at the forefront of helping their patients benefit from medical therapies derived from STEM CELLS obtained from their teeth.

TOOTH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Specific criteria must be met in order for a tooth to be eligible for stem cell recovery. It is best to recover stem cells when a patient is young and healthy and the stem cells are at their most proliferative stage, however, stem cells can also be recovered from permanent teeth of middle-age individuals. Three distinct groups of teeth from where the patients have the opportunity to recover their stem cells are: Primary (Baby) teeth, Permanent teeth and ‘Wisdom’ teeth.

Primary (Baby) Teeth: Healthy pulps of baby teeth are a rich source of viable stem cells. The ideal baby tooth for stem cells recovery is a front tooth (canine or incisor) that has just started to loose and is not extracted for an infection. A tooth brought by a patient in hand to the office is not a candidate for recovery stem cells. Neither an excessively loose tooth nor one that is ‘hanging on by a thread’ is a candidate.

Permanent Teeth: All permanent teeth with healthy pulp are potential sources of stem cells. Bicuspids needing to be removed for orthodontic indications are an example of this. Age is Important. The stem cells from within the pulp become less proliferative as individuals age.

Why should you or your child cryopreserve your own dental stem cells?

Healthy dental pulp stem cells are among the most powerful stem cells in the body and replicate at a faster rate and for longer period of time than other types of stem cells. Dental stem cells show great promise for future regenerative medical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, diabetes, bone disease and brain and nerve injuries

The accessibility of teeth makes harvesting dental stem cells simple, convenient and affordable. There are no invasive surgical procedures and you have several opportunities during life to have dental stem cells recovery.

If needed, using your own stem cells pose few, if any, risks for rejection and eliminates the risk of contracting disease from donated tissues.

When should I cryopreserve my or my kid’s dental stem cells?

Ideally, the stem cells should be recovered when the patient is young and healthy. Dental stem cells are available several times during the course of a childs life: the exfoliation of baby (primary) teeth, the extraction of bicuspid for orthodontic purpose, and ‘wisdom’ teeth extraction. Adult patients can also take advantage of the opportunity to recover their stem cells when an extraction of a healthy tooth is ne necessary as part of a comprehensive dental treatment.

If you would like to have more information about dental stem cells, please feel free to ask Dr. Gomez or visit http://www.stemsave.com/