The company in question, BioEden is registered with the FDA and claims to be the first tooth cell bank in the world to offer cellular isolation and storage services for these tooth cells.
The company says that, as healthcare moves nearer toward personalized medicine where treatment is customized for each individual, the use of stem cells found in children’s primary teeth is a significant step toward that goal.
“Most people are aware of two main sources of stem cells: embryonic and cord blood. However there is a viable third source of cells: primary, or ‘baby tooth’ stem cells can also be useful in finding cures to numerous severe diseases and disabling medical conditions,” explained BioEden president Jeff Johnson.
He also explained that only 12 teeth can be used for the process, and the cells must be extracted soon after the tooth falls out.
The types of cells taken from the teeth are being investigated in numerous diseases, including heart disease, bone regeneration, and neuronal degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and spinal cord injury.