Stem Cell Harvesting/Banking from Teeth

A Surprising Fact!

In 2003, Dr. Songtao Shi, a pediatric dentist at the U.S. National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, discovered and published that primary teeth contained stem cells, and that those cells contained special properties.  He named these cells SHED: Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous
teeth. The stem cells found in these teeth have unusually high proliferation rates, are found in relatively high abundance, are capable of many population doublings, and are able to differentiate into neuronal clusters.  Shi identified adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells present
in this pulp material.

ADIPOCYTES  - Adipocytes have successfully been used to repair damage to the heart muscle caused by severe heart attack. There is also pre liminary data to indicate they can be used to treat cardiovascular disease, spine and ortho pedic conditions, congestive heart failure, Crohn's disease, and to be used in plastic surgery.

CHONDROCYTES AND OSTEOBLASTS - Chondrocytes and osteoblasts have successfully been used to grow bone and cartilage suitable for transplant. They have also been used to grow intact
teeth in animals.

MESENCHYMAL - Mesenchymal stem cells have successfully been used to repair spinal cord injury and to restore feeling and movement in paralyzed human patients.  Since they can form neuronal clusters, mesenchymal stem cells also have the potential to treat neuronal degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, cerebral palsy, as well as a host of other disorders.  Mesenchymal stem cells have more therapeutic potential than any other type of adult stem cells.

Special Challenges With Stem Cell Transplants

Stem cell therapies present some difficulties. One significant hurdle is GVHD, or graft versus host disease.  This common and life-threatening side effect pccurs when the transplanted stem cells recognize the recipients body as foreign, and "reject" it.  Another difficulty is that normal stem cells have a limited growth capacity outside of the human body, which limits the number of cells available for a therapeutic treatments.  Because of this limitation, many current cell therapies can only be performed on children.

Finally, receiving donor material always carries the significant risk of communicable disease transmission. The FDA only requires that the material be tested for three human pathogens: HIV, Hep B and Hep C.  Why Are These Cells So Important?  These are valuable cells. Since children's teeth fall out naturally, the procedure for obtaining the cells is non-invasive, and non-controversial. Since they are obtained from an early time of life, they have suffered less environmental damage.  The cells' unusually high proliferation rates allows for therapeutic treatments on adults.  The future of stem cell therapies is promising.  Current funding for stem cell research is in excess of $6 billion worldwide, and there are thousands of ongoing clinical trials that involve stem cells. In fact, in addressing the 2005 ADA national media conference, Dr. Pamela Gehron Robey, Ph.D., Chief, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Department of Health and Human Services, foresaw the value of tooth cell banking and encouraged the practice.  Stem cell therapy does not just treat symptoms, it treats disease.

 When you come into the office ask about how you can bank your stem cells or your child's stem cells, 214-387-4900.