Simple Steps To Better Dental Health
Search  
Help With Search
Help
space placeholder.space placeholder
Featuring consumer information from Columbia School of Dental & Oral Surgery
.
HomeFree E-mail
Oral Health Made Simple: Your Prescription For Knowledge
 PREVENT PROBLEMS
Small BoxAll About Cavities
Small BoxBrushing and Flossing
Small BoxFluoride
Small BoxMouth-Healthy Eating
Small BoxSealants
Small BoxTaking Care Of Your Teeth
Small BoxTobacco
Small BoxYour Dental Visit
Small BoxMORE
 CONDITIONS
Small BoxBad Breath
Small BoxCavities
Small BoxCold Sores
Small BoxDry Mouth
Small BoxImpacted Tooth
Small BoxSensitive Teeth
Small BoxTMJ
Small BoxTooth Discoloration
Small BoxMORE
 TREATMENTS
Small BoxCrowns
Small BoxDentures
Small BoxFillings: The Basics
Small BoxGum Surgery
Small BoxImplants
Small BoxRoot Canal Treatment
Small BoxScaling and Root Planing
Small BoxWhitening
Small BoxMORE
 GENERAL TOPICS
Small BoxControlling Pain
Small BoxCosmetic Dentistry
Small BoxEmergencies
Small BoxFill, Repair, Replace
Small BoxKids And Teens
Small BoxOral Health and Your Body
Small BoxOrthodontics
Small BoxPeriodontics
Small BoxSeniors
Small BoxMORE
.
Step 1 Prevent ProblemsSimplestepsPrevent Problems
Step 2 Understand ConditionsSimplestepsUnderstand Conditions
Step 3 Explore TreatmentsSimplestepsExplore Treatments

go to Parents' Guide go to News go to Ask The Dentist go to Interactive Tools

graphic for Dental News showing newspaper
.
.

Stem Cells Under Your Pillow?
August 5, 2008

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Almost every child asks what the Tooth Fairy does with all of those lost baby teeth that she collects. Perhaps in the future, she can use them to make new teeth – or even new nerve cells or bone.

Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry say they have used stem cells from lost baby teeth to grow dental pulp tissue in mice. Dental pulp is what's in the center of a tooth. It contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels.

Stem cells were first discovered in lost baby teeth about five years ago at the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Stem cells can divide and form many different types of cells, including fat, nerve and bone cells. Each baby tooth contains about 15 stem cells.

The Michigan researchers suggest that stem cells could be used to grow dental pulp, or to regrow teeth or parts of teeth. Also, these stem cells could be collected and banked in case they are needed. Stem cells are used in bone marrow transplants for some types of cancer and blood disorders.

The Michigan study appears in the August issue of the Journal of Endodontics. The NIDCR research appeared in May 2003 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

.
printer friendly format option iconPrinter-friendly version     
.
printer friendly format option iconPrinter-friendly version
 
Terms and Conditions / Disclaimer.Privacy Policy.Editorial Policy.Contact Us.About Us.Site Map.
Powered by Aetna Dental Plans

© 2002-2008 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. External website links provided on this site are meant for convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement. These external links open in a different window.