CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Research into the world of dental DNA and stem cells could give plenty of people something worth smiling about, and the key to staying healthy could indeed be those pearly whites.
Dr. Michael Schmidt is a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina who is on a team of researchers and students on the forefront of a major medical discovery — harvesting stem cells that one day could be used to regenerate tissue, other cells, and even entire organs.
“Stem cells have this fancy term,” Dr. Schmidt said. “They are called pluripotent which is code for they just make more. And when you add the right chemical combination to those stem cells you can expand them, you can grow as many as you need.”
Almost a decade ago, parents across the nation became interested in
cells from cord blood that are harvested from the umbilical cord, taken shortly after birth.
According to the National Cord Blood Registry, thousands of samples are taken, frozen, then stored in labs across the country.
The cells are already being used to treat more than 80 diseases, but the possibilities, scientists say, are endless and could eventually lead to instant diagnosis and treatments for even the most serious of medical conditions.
“That day is not too far in the future,” Schmidt said. “We will probably see it with our lifetimes where we will be able to dial a gene and figure out how we can fix what’s wrong with us.”
For those who didn’t choose to harvest that cord blood at birth, they didn’t miss out on the health opportunities.
Scientists are perfecting a new harvesting technique, extracting a child’s baby tooth to get at the stem cells inside.
“Baby teeth just happen to be that one extra place that we can recover them,” Schmidt said. “Cord blood is great, but if you can get them from baby teeth so much the better because you don’t have to bank them at the day you are born. You can actually wait until the teeth grow out.”
A cell that can one day be regenerated into a heart, a kidney, or a liver if you need it later in life seems like the plot of Hollywood movie. But it’s more fact than fiction.
Landon Sears is a fourth year dental student at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is studying to become a pediatric dentist and said his classes, lectures, and professors are already talking about what is known as the future of medicine — harvesting stem cells.
“The most common way is there are a number of labs that will send the dentist or patient a kit with preserving liquid to keep the tissue alive,” Sears said. “They just send it to a lab and eventually they store the teeth for you.”
Sears says the simplest way to make sure a person’s dental DNA lives on is to make an appointment at the dentist when your child’s tooth is about to come out. Let the trained dentist extract the tooth.
The tooth is then taken, drilled into and stem cells harvested. Samples of those stem cells are then frozen in a mixture of liquid nitrogen and other preserving chemicals.
Once the sample is secured, it is sent to a lab where it is stored until medical technology is advanced enough for it to be used.
It’s an idea that may be years off, but a plan Sears says is like an insurance policy for your body.
“It may not seem like a big deal losing a baby tooth,” Sears said. “But if you need a regenerative tissue procedure way down the road for an organ replacement or some type of surgery it could literally make the difference in a person’s life.”
But act fast. The tooth needs to be preserved within 48 hours of coming out.
Critics say the cost far outweighs the medical benefits available at right now.
“I’ve seen anywhere from $500 for just the initial startup and then $100 or so a month after to store the teeth,” Sears said.
Store-A-Tooth, an online lab, advertises their services at $1,749. Other tooth storage services begin at $849, and may be paid with a 12-month payment plan of $77 per month. Storage fees are $120 per year.
So should people start booking that appointment now?
With current treatments being used and more clinical trials happening everyday
The answer is… well, it’s up to each person.
“I think you look at it like an investment or as insurance on your own health or your children’s health knowing one day it will be available,” Sears said. “I would say why not?”
If the tooth fairy already took those baby teeth, people can still capitalize on the new trend.
Researchers say stem cells can also be harvested from wisdom teeth.
“We will probably see it with our lifetimes where we will be able to dial a gene and figure out how we can fix what’s wrong with us.”
Seeing it and being able to afford it are two different things.
“I’ve seen anywhere from $500 for just the initial startup and then $100 or so a month after to store the teeth,” Sears said.
Store-A-Tooth, an online lab, advertises their services at $1,749. Other tooth storage services begin at $849, and may be paid with a 12-month payment plan of $77 per month. Storage fees are $120 per year.”
You sure been awful scarce lately, Angel. 🙁