New Technique Quadruples Stem Cell Harvest From Third Molars

New Technique Quadruples Stem Cell Harvest From Third Molars

In a collaboration between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) Mechanical

Engineering Department and School of Dental Medicine’s Orthodontic Program, researchers

have developed a new method for extracting root pulp from third molars that

quadruples the number of stem cells that can be harvested for medical and

dental therapies. The team devised a clamp dubbed the Tooth Cracker 5000 that

allows the molar to be perfectly halved, providing immediate access to

undamaged and uncontaminated root pulp. The particulars of the process of

harvesting and preserving these cells were detailed in the paper, “The Effects

of Cryopreservation on Human Dental Pulp-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells,”

published in Biomaterials and

Biomechanics in Bioengineering.

In the study, investigators

dyed 31 fractured-tooth pulp samples to highlight any viable stem cells the

teeth contained (dead cells would turn blue when exposed to the dye, while living

cells would appear clear). The authors report that 80% of the extracted cells

remained clear. This represents a substantial increase from the 20% average

pulp recovery rate using common extraction methods. “Saying the test results

are promising is a gross understatement,” notes James Mah, DDS, MS, a clinical

professor and director

of UNLV’s Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics. “The potential

applications for this technique are enormous.”

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter
November 2017