The Future of Tooth Banking: Could Baby Teeth Save Lives?

Cryopreserving stem cells may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but in reality, it is a rapidly advancing field with groundbreaking potential. Scientists have discovered that baby teeth contain stem cells capable of regenerating various tissues in the body, which means that in the future, these tiny teeth could be life-saving resources. As a result, some parents are turning to tooth banking, storing their children's teeth in hopes that medical advancements will make them valuable for treating diseases down the line.

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What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are unique cells in the body that have the remarkable ability to regenerate, divide, and repair tissues. Every organ and tissue in the human body originates from stem cells, making them an essential component of healing and regeneration. There are two primary sources of stem cells:

1️⃣ Embryonic Stem Cells – Found in embryos during early development.
2️⃣ Adult Stem Cells – Found in various tissues like bone marrow, fat, and even baby teeth.

🔬 The stem cells found in baby teeth are specifically known as SHED cells (Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth). These cells are similar to bone cells and dentin-producing cells, making them a promising area of research for regenerative medicine.

Dr. Pamela Robey, a leading researcher at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, explains:

“SHED cells seem to produce not only dentin but also something similar to bone.”

This discovery suggests that baby teeth could be valuable for medical treatments in the future.

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Tooth Banking: A New Form of Biological Insurance?

🦷 Like bone marrow, baby teeth contain stem cells that could one day be used for medical treatments. As a result, some parents are now considering tooth banking—a process where baby teeth are collected, preserved, and stored in specialized stem cell banks.

However, scientists remain divided on whether this practice is currently worth the investment.

💬 Dr. Robey’s Opinion:

“Right now, I don’t think it is a logical thing to do. That’s my personal opinion. But that’s not to say that in the future, somebody won’t develop a method to make them beneficial.”

While the technology to fully harness the potential of baby teeth stem cells is still in its early stages, researchers believe it holds great promise.

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Potential Uses of Baby Teeth Stem Cells

Although research is ongoing, SHED stem cells could eventually be used in treatments for:

✔ Dental Regeneration – Repairing or replacing damaged dental pulp.
✔ Whole Tooth Regeneration – Regrowing an entire tooth structure.
✔ Healing Tissues Damaged by Chemotherapy or Disease – Potentially repairing damaged cells in cancer patients.
✔ Treating Blood Disorders – Conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and multiple myeloma could one day benefit from SHED cells.

⚠ However, it is important to note that the last two applications have not yet been tested on SHED stem cells.

Dr. Jade Miller, President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, believes that baby teeth stem cells will have significant medical applications in the future:

“The science is strong enough to show it’s not science fiction. There’s going to be a significant application, and I want my grandkids to have those options.”

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How Does Tooth Banking Work?

Although stem cell research still has a long way to go, several companies now offer tooth banking services, including Store-A-Tooth and ToothBank.

How It Works:
1️⃣ You ship your child’s tooth to a laboratory.
2️⃣ The lab extracts the stem cells.
3️⃣ The cells are grown in a culture to expand their numbers.
4️⃣ The stem cells are cryopreserved (frozen) for future use.

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The Cost of Tooth Banking

💰 Tooth banking isn’t cheap!

For example, Store-A-Tooth charges:
✅ $1,747 upfront for processing.
✅ $120 per year for storage fees.

💡 Is It Worth It?
Since scientists don’t know when stem cell technology will be advanced enough to use SHED cells, some parents may spend a significant amount of money without ever benefiting from it.

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Advancements in Stem Cell Research

🔬 Encouraging Progress in Recent Studies:

✅ In 2018, a University of Pennsylvania trial successfully generated dental tissue using baby teeth stem cells.
✅ Scientists have already confirmed that dental pulp stem cells can generate bone.
✅ As research advances, the potential uses of SHED cells will continue to grow.

However, experts agree that it’s too early to consider baby teeth stem cells as a widely accepted medical treatment.

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Final Thoughts: Should You Bank Baby Teeth?

🦷 Tooth banking remains a fascinating and potentially revolutionary concept, but there are still many unknowns. While the promise of using baby teeth to regenerate tissues or treat diseases is real, the technology isn’t fully developed yet.

For now, parents interested in tooth banking should consider the high cost and the uncertainty of when these stem cells will be practically usable. However, as stem cell research advances, SHED cells could eventually become a powerful tool for medical treatments.

🔴 Would you consider storing your child’s baby teeth? Let us know in the comments!