Stem cells, which have the potential to protect from life threatening diseases, can be 'locked' within your family teeth. Now, dentists have introduced process to send milk teeth to Mumbai-based labs to harvest milk teeth for future use of stem cells.
Dentists claim that though only two samples have been collected by the Mumbai-based lab from the city but there has been a steep rise in the queries being raised by parents about the facility in the past three to four months.
With the discovery of stem cells in milk teeth, dentists claim that an accessible and available source of stem cells has been identified. A child's stem cells can be preserved from the milk teeth and can even be collected from impacted third molars till the age of 22.
Dr Om Shankar of Institute of Medical Science, BHU, maintained that stem cells can be obtained from any bone of the body and it can also be obtained from pulp (milk teeth) as well as blood. He said that a large number of stem cells were found in bone marrow and the number of less stem cells were found in blood.
He claimed that stem cell taken from pulp of teeth has many advantages as it could be transformed in different cells.
Ortho dentist Dr Abha Vishnoi Kesarwani said that parents have become aware about the fact that stem cells can be obtained from the pulp of milk teeth. Parents of new born and children ask about the course of action and expenditure needed for the process.
Research involving stem cells in teeth has exploded during last four and five years and the laboratories that will bank the cells in a deep-freezer have since began operating. Experts say that dental stem cells have the potential to treat different diseases including heart disease and leukemia In the near future, dental stem cells could grow new teeth and jaw bone.
Professor and head of the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, MLN Medical College, Allahabad, U S Sinha said that stem cells can be taken from milk teeth for preservation. Preserving milk teeth is highly recommended as an all-time asset that can be used for treating a person or his/her siblings anytime."
As a Mumbai laboratory is providing special kits for preserving stem cell from milk teeth, city dentists have started harvesting milk teeth for stem cell preservation. City based dental surgeon Dr Vaibhav Shukla has collected milk teeth of two children aged about seven and nine years and sent to the Mumbai laboratory for preservation.
The deciduous tooth which has been extracted can be cut with a cryo knife to collect stem cells. This facility was not available in India till a few years back, but a medical lab at Mumbai has introduced the facility for preserving stem cell.
If experts use any other instrument instead of cryo knife, it produces heat that subsequently leads to destruction of stem cells. The stem cells contained within teeth are capable of replicating themselves and can be readily recovered at the time of a planned dental procedure.
Apart from being the most convenient stem cells to access, dental stem cells have significant medical benefits in the development of new medical therapies. Using one's own stem cells for medical treatment means a much lower risk of rejection by the body and decreases the need for powerful drugs that weaken the immune system.
The stem cells from teeth have been observed in research studies to be among the most powerful in the human body. Stem cells from teeth replicate at a faster rate and for a longer period of time than cells harvested from other tissues of the body.
Recently, parents of a boy suffering from muscular dystrophy approached the doctors to get his stem cell preserved. After the process, his treatment was started which is showing positive results.
Dr A K Santhani said that parents may not see the benefits of dental stem cell banking immediately, but it is the best investment and gift from parents to their children. Most of the families regret when their children face some chronic disease and their stem cells are not preserved at the time of birth. But now, stem cell preservation through milk teeth is offering a new hope.
It is a costly exercise and around Rs 85,000 is required for preserving stem cell from milk teeth. Doctors said that stem cells have shown potential in treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, spinal cord injuries, retinal diseases, endocrinal disorders, renal disease, liver disorders, muscular dystrophy and many incurable diseases.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Milk-teeth-stem-cells-help-treat-chronic-diseases/articleshow/38667773.cms
Visit us: http://www.affinitydentalfresno.net/
from Affinity Dental Fresno http://affinitydental.livejournal.com/23933.html
No comments:
Post a Comment