What Does Store-A-Tooth Do?

The stem cell banking organization’s goal is to inform parents that there are stem cells found in any healthy tooth and that parents have the potential to have their child’s cells banked for the future health of their child (and potentially their siblings/relatives). The organization safely banks these cells for when the child needs them (even decades in the future).

Who Does It Benefit?

The stem cells have the promise to benefit anyone. Worldwide research is exploring the potential of dental stem cells in treatments for Type 1 Diabetes, as well as other serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and spinal cord injury. Dental stem cells have currently been shown to regenerate jaw bone and treat periodontal disease in humans.

The Process

The process is simple. Dentists extract baby teeth naturally falling out, wisdom teeth being extracted or teeth being pulled to make room for braces. The dentists prepares the specimen, and Provia Labs (Store-A-Tooth’s lab) collects the tooth for stem cell processing. The cost is $649 to bank, plus a yearly $120 storage fee (for up to 4 teeth stored). There is a significant discount if you pre-pay for 20 years of storage ($2399). (This is also significantly less expensive than storing cord blood.)

What is the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Council on Clinical Affairs Saying?

Published in 2008, the AAPD said, “The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes the emerging field of regenerative medicine and encourages dentists to follow future evidence-based literature in order to educate parents about the collection, storage, viability, and use of dental stem cells with respect to autologous regenerative therapies.”

I have to be honest and admit that I had never heard of Dental Stem Cell Banking before. I had heard of cord blood banking, but not dental stem cell. So what are the basics? “Similar to stem cells from umbilical cord blood, dental stem cells have the potential to be used in many medical applications. They have already been used to regenerate dental bone and treat periodontal disease, and are currently being studied by researchers to help treat conditions such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, stroke, heart attack, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.”

Why should you store your child’s dental stem cells?

Plentiful and painless to collect – found in baby teeth naturally falling out or extracted teeth such as wisdom teeth
Affordable – the initial cost to store dental stem cells is about one third to one half the cost of storing umbilical cord blood
Non-controversial – adult stem cells, not embryonic
Precious – public banks don’t exist for storing dental stem cells
Autologous – a perfect match since they’re your child’s own stem cells (so no risk of immunologic rejection)
Your child’s dental stem cells may also match closely related relatives (siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles/aunts)

Even if you don’t think Dental Stem Cell Banking is for you, chances are you know someone who has a sick child that this process could greatly benefit in the future. Spread the word!

Things that are Brag Worthy:

Oct. 3 is Stem Cell Awareness Day
Preserving your children’s own dental stem cells is simple, painless and convenient.
Dental stem cells are adult stem cells (not embryonic stem cells) found in both baby teeth and wisdom teeth
Storing your child’s dental stem cells costs about 1/3 as much as storing umbilical cord blood