Stem cells are "master cells" in the body that have the potential to differentiate into different cell types e.g. blood cells, nerve cells and others. In addition to differentiation, they also serve as an internal repair system of the body. They are first seen during early embryonic development and are also distributed in different parts of the body in an adult.

Researchers have discovered several sources of stem cells:

Embryonic stem cells - These stem cells come from embryos that are four to five days old.

Adult Stem Cells - Adult stem cells are found in developed organs and tissues of the body. Despite the name, they are found in children as well as adults. These stem cells are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow. Adult stem cells are also found in children and in placentas and umbilical cords.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - These are regular adult cells that are not stem cells but are induced (re-programmed) to exhibit pluripotent properties, to act like embryonic stem cells.

Dental stem cells or Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are adult stem cells found in both, baby teeth (milk teeth of children in the age group of 6 -12 years.) and wisdom teeth in young adults. Studies have show that DPSCs have the ability to develop into more types of body tissue than other types of stem cells. These cells contain mesenchymal cells, which have been shown to differentiate into bone, neural tissue, dental tissue, cartilage and muscle.

Doctors are extremely enthusiastic about stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine. It is replacement of diseased, dysfunctional or injured cells with stem cells or their derivatives. It's somewhat similar to the organ transplant process but uses cells instead of organs.

Researchers grow stem cells in the lab. These stem cells are manipulated to make them specialize into specific types of cells, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. The specialized cells could then be implanted into a person. For example, if the person had heart disease, the cells could be injected into the heart muscle. The healthy, transplanted heart cells could then contribute to repairing defective heart muscle.

At present, extensive research is being conducted by various brilliant scientists all over the world, with a wide array of diseases being studied ranging from cancer to heart diseases to regeneration of dental and craniofacial cells. Given the ability of these cells to produce and secrete neurotrophic factors, these stem cells may also be beneficial for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and the repair of motoneurons following injury.

Currently dental pulp stem cells are being studied for their future potential in:

• To generate new bone structure for fractures, improper bone formations, weak bones etc.
• To generate cartilages for conditions like arthritis, etc.
• Repairing damaged heart cells after a heart attack.
• To generate cells of nerves and the brain.
• To repair muscles for diseases such as muscle weakness.
• Regenerating liver cells

There are many reasons.

• Some treat the service as a sort of biological insurance.
• Others have chosen to store stem cells because their family has specific history or risk factors that prompt them to consider all potential options available.
• Some see the field of stem cells growing rapidly and do not want to miss the opportunity to keep the cells now.
• Most agree, that there are limited opportunities to safely, inexpensively, and painlessly acquire and save these valuable stem cells in case they are ever needed.

There are two types of stem cell transplants - Allogeneic and Autologous

• Allogeneic stem cell transplant uses donor cells from a public cell bank.
• Autologous stem cell transplant uses the patient's own stem cells.   There are many advantages of autologous transplant including; no immune reaction and tissue rejection of the cells, no immunosuppressive therapy needed, and significantly reduced risk of communicable diseases.

Dental stem cells are used for autologous transplants. However they may potentially be used to treat conditions in first or second degree blood relatives (siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts) in addition to the donor.

Yes, the organs or tissues which are derived from your stem cells will be normal and similar to your other tissues, because they have grown from your cells only

On the surface, stem cells might seem irrelevant to you because you do not have any degenerative disorders. However stem cells offer the hope of a cure for many types of disease, such as insulin-dependant diabetes, MI, MS, Parkinsons disease and tissue damage such as that suffered by spinal trauma victims. Stem cells could be important to any disease due to their unique property of being forever 'young' and being responsive to change.

Dental stem cell banking complements Umbilical cord stem cell banking. Cord blood stem cells are mainly used today to treat blood diseases; however, dental stem cells will be used to treat hard and soft tissue diseases and injuries, such as healing connective tissue, repairing dental tissues, neuronal tissue and bone.

DPSCs score high not only in terms of therapeutic advantages but also in terms of practical aspects of banking

Dental pulp stem cell banking has the following advantages which are one of its kinds:

• The time period for banking healthy dental stem cells is wide, since it can be done for children in the age group of 5-12 years and also for adults whose wisdom tooth is to be extracted.
• The collection of stem cells from the pulp of the tooth is easy, painless, quick, highly efficient, with no ethical complications, as it involves a simple process of extraction of the tooth.
• Dental stem cells are non-controversial adult stem cells, unlike embryonic stem cells, the source of which involves ethical issues.
• The dental stem cells have demonstrated interactivity with biomaterials, making them ideal for tissue reconstruction.
• DPSCs are expandable, they can be multiplied under controlled conditions.

The sooner the better!” As the quality of the stem cells starts to decrease with the increase in the age. However in children it is 6-12 years and in the wisdom teeth cases they can be removed and preserved soon after the eruption of the tooth in the mouth.

The baby teeth (incisors and canines) and wisdom teeth are the right teeth to collect as they are rich in adult stem cells. Except in cases of accident or trauma, the teeth are extracted to allow proper positioning. The dental pulp in baby teeth or wisdom tooth is rich in adult stem cells. The eruption of wisdom teeth is generally between 17 and 21 years. Generally, tooth eruption is earlier in girls than in boys. The teeth usually erupt in pairs, one on each side.