How to Preserve Wisdom Teeth for Stem Cells

Stem cells extracted from tooth pulp can be transformed into anything from heart, blood, and brain cells to muscle tissue. Preserving your teeth for stem cells can act as an insurance policy if you, your child, or an immediate relative were to develop an illness or injury that can be treated with stem cell therapy in the future.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source} You don’t need to have the same blood type with the recipient of your stem cells, but the proteins in your cells need to share some characteristics. Some dentists don’t recommend storing stem cells from teeth because stem cell therapy is currently limited and it’s debatable whether these cells will be useful as stem cells from cord blood. However, many people and parents choose to have their or their children’s stem cells preserved in hopes that stem cell therapy will open up as a viable option in the near future.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Finding a Tooth Bank

1
Search for a reputable tooth bank online and check their credentials. Type "tooth bank" or “tooth bank stem cell preservation” into your browser's search bar to find organizations that will store your teeth. Putting your teeth in a tooth bank can be pricey, so make sure the bank is FDA certified and accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks or Department of Health.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Check the lab's history to see how long they have been around and if they have a good history. For instance, you don’t want to choose a lab that has had problems with their cryopreservation practices.
- Read online reviews (not just the testimonials on the company’s website) to make sure others have had good experiences with the company.
- Look at their website for necessary certifications. The content on their “About” page should mention if they’re FDA certified and accredited by a medical association or government agency.
2
Pay the collection and processing fees as well as any annual fees. The collection and processing fees pay for the kit you'll receive and the labor and materials that are involved in the process of stem cell extraction and cryopreservation. Some tooth banks include the first year's storage fee in this amount while others require you to pay an additional first-year fee for storage.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Collection and processing fees can range from $600 to $2,000 while annual storage fees vary from $100 to $270.
- There's no fee for storing multiple teeth—most banks accept and encourage you to preserve the cells from all 4 wisdom teeth.
- If you have dental insurance, you may be able to pay for the annual storage fee with a flexible spending account.
- The process is pricey, but it may be worth it if you or your child is at risk for diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, or heart disease down the line.^{[4]XResearch source}
3
Order the collection kit at least 2 weeks before your appointment. Depending on where you live, it could take up to 2 weeks to receive your collection kit from the tooth bank. It's wise to order it sooner than later so you don't have to push back your dental appointment.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Check with your chosen tooth bank to see how long it may take you to receive the kit.
Advertisement

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Extracting and Shipping Your Teeth

1
Ask your dentist if the teeth are in good enough shape to send to a bank. Healthy wisdom teeth provide the tooth bank with the most pulp and, in turn, the most stem cells. If you have cavities or fillings, you can still preserve your teeth for stem cells as long as the nerve endings are intact and blood flow hasn't been obstructed.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Your dentist can tell you whether or not it's worth preserving your wisdom teeth if you have severe decay.
2
Keep the collection kit in a cool, dry place and don’t tamper with it. Make sure the kit doesn’t get wet, torn, or exposed to extreme heat so it stays in good shape when it’s time to ship it back to the laboratory. Don’t open the bag or container where the dentist will be storing your wisdom teeth because it needs to stay sterile.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Your dentist will know how to handle the tooth and properly place it in the container without introducing foreign bacteria.
- If you notice your kit is visibly damaged, contact the tooth bank right away.
3
Give your dentist the kit from the tooth bank if necessary. Some dentists have storage materials on-hand for shipping teeth. However, if your tooth bank has sent you a kit with the shipping materials, give it to your doctor on the day of your appointment.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Most tooth banks offer collection kits but some suggest that you ask your dentist about tooth storage options.
4
Leave the kit with your dentist or overnight it to the lab right away. Some tooth banks arrange for shipping carriers to pick up the tooth from your dentist's office. If that’s the case, leave the kit with your dentist and they’ll take care of it. If not, you can drop it off in an overnight shipping mailbox. The collection kit provided by the bank will likely be pre-marked with postage and the address. All you need to do is provide a return address on the package.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- While in transit, keep the collection kit in a cool, dry place.
- Your chosen tooth bank may suggest a preferred carrier for speedy delivery.
- It's important to get the tooth to the dental bank as soon as possible because they need to extract the cells from the pulp and place them in cryopreservation.
5
Wait to receive confirmation from the tooth bank. Most tooth banks will send you a report about how many stem cells they extracted from the pulp and how they're preserving them. If the stem cells were not viable, they'll let you know and will likely credit your account so you can preserve stem cells from other teeth in the future.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Your stem cells can be stored for 25 years (which is how long cryopreservation has been used). However, some scientists project that they can be stored for longer or indefinitely.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

If you plan to have your wisdom teeth extracted and preserved in the next few years, keep them healthy with good oral hygiene and a low-sugar diet.
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0

Warnings

Note that cryopreserved stem cells from wisdom teeth are not guaranteed to be effective in the future. Some scientists predict they will be viable but agree that more research is needed.^{[11]XResearch source}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0