Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Stem cells can be found in most bodily tissues but are often difficult, painful, or uncomfortable to locate and harvest. As well as the potential for umbilical cord blood, menstrual blood, adipose tissue, and skin as slightly more accessible sources of stem cells (in contrast to bone marrow), teeth are also an option for some patients. Children’s milk teeth, as well as adult teeth, are a source of stem cells that may be collected during routine dental procedures such as a tooth extraction or as the teeth fall out naturally in childhood. The stem cells from these teeth can be stored (currently only privately) and may be able to be used to treat certain diseases or medical conditions at a later date. Stem cells in the soft living tissue of teeth (dental pulp) were only discovered in 2003 and research has progressed rapidly as they revealed a capacity to differentiate in to a number of tissues including bone, cartilage, adipose tissue, and even neural-like cells. Trials are underway in animal models for a number of potential applications such as bone regeneration, heart disease, and even neurological conditions.
An advantage of dental pulp stem cells is that this type of stem cell differs from the usual stem cell sources which largely produce blood cells or immune-forming cells. Dental pulp stem cells may have wider applications for connective tissues, bone, and related tissue generation. The lack of urgency in storing dental pulp stem cells means that many parents who missed the opportunity to store their child’s cord blood may now store their milk teeth instead. Several companies provide kits for home collection and transportation of fallen milk teeth, or kits for the extraction, containment, and transportation of adult teeth in a dental clinic. Dentists are increasingly aware of the possible applications of dental stem cells and are often already connected to a company offering tooth storage options. No public dental pulp stem cell banks are currently in operation and those looking at storing teeth privately need to consider the possibility that these stem cells will never be used.
Collection and Storage of Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Due to an increase in interest and demand for dental pulp stem cell storage, many dentists are undergoing training to ensure that they know how to recover and transport the teeth to optimize stem cell recovery. The procedure does not affect the normal standard of care given during a dental operation such as a tooth extraction, nor does it require the dentist to obtain expensive equipment as the storage company usually provides a special container in which to seal and send the tooth. The teeth will be collected and stored in such a way as to nourish the cells during transport to the laboratory and retain viability. If they are viable then they will be cryopreserved for future use.
Some of the more established companies, such as StemSave, have large storage facilities where other biological material, such as cord blood, unfertilized eggs, and sperm, are stored. Cryogenic preservation standards are high and these facilities are FDA-certified. Certification and accreditation of any storage facility under consideration should be checked to ensure good standards. Provia Laboratories Inc.’s Store-A-Tooth are also a well-established company whose founders have been involved in the development of protocols for sample collection. The people at Store-A-Tooth have also developed a Tooth Fairy Gift Certificate programme to give youngsters a memento in place of the traditional coin under the pillow.
The main drawbacks from storing stem cells from teeth are the costs involved and the potential for them to never actually be used. Processing costs can range from $500-1500 for an initial tooth to be stored, with many companies applying a discount on subsequent storage. Most facilities also have fees of around $120 each year to cover storage costs. For many parents this is prohibitively expensive, especially if they are considering storing dental pulp stem cells for every family member at some point. Discounted longer-term rates are offered to cover storage for twenty years or so, and companies may also give incentives such as reductions if you refer a friend or fellow parent. Public dental stem cell banks may be created in the future if more research indicates their safety and efficacy for stem cell treatments.
Continue Reading –> Dental Pulp Stem Cell Treatments
