Stem Cells From Extracted Wisdom Teeth Are Like ‘Medical Gold,’ Able to Treat Multiple Diseases

Millions of Americans schedule wisdom‑tooth surgery each year, treating the third molars as little more than biological clutter. However, these grinders hide valuable dental stem cells at their core, and may prove to be critical in the treatment of several serious diseases.

That routine visit to your dentist could soon double as the first step in a personalized medical plan, now that researchers have confirmed the teeth hide stem cells with a knack for rebuilding bone, cartilage, and even nerve tissue.

The research was led by Dr. Gaskon Ibarretxe, an associate professor in the Cell Biology and Histology Department at the University of the Basque Country.

Unlocking hidden cells

Every wisdom tooth shelters a soft core called dental pulp, a vascular pocket that keeps the tooth alive.

Scientists have isolated pulp‑resident cells that behave like immature body builders, able to transform into neurons, heart muscle or bone, once coaxed in the lab. (Read more from “Stem Cells From Extracted Wisdom Teeth Are Like ‘Medical Gold,’ Able to Treat Multiple Diseases” HERE)