What is stem cell?
Stem cells are special cells that have the capacity to renew themselves and evolve to form different variety of cells. They renew and multiply by the process of mitotic cell division. They are found in almost all organisms. They are grown in-vitro and have the ability to form three dimensional structures if given proper growth factors and others.
What is stem cell research?
It is the latest research that is in the process of utilizing the property of potency and multiplication of stem cells to form whole organs or parts of the body. In dentistry, scientists are trying to find the possible applications of stem cells for restoring and regenerating the dental and dento-facial structures.
Properties of Stem cells:
Stem cells have the following properties:
- Pluripotent- ability of the stems cells to form any kind of cell except that of embryogenic origin or from the embryonic membrane.
- Unipotent- ability to produce one type of cells
- Multipotent- ability to distinguish to different type of adult cells
- Totipotent- Ability to produce all types of cells even the germ cells.
Types of stem cells:
Embryonic stem cell
They are obtained from the blastocytes which are retrived from the embryos grown in vitro fertilization centres. They are totipotent cells and can differentiate into any type of cell including germ cells.
Adult stem cell
They are cells that are found in undifferentiated state in already developed cells in a organ. Sources are mainly bone marrow, brain, dental pulp etc. They are not totipotent. Thus they can be classified into the following:
- Haemtopoietic stem cells
- Mesenchymal stem cells
Stem cells in dentistry?
Stem cells in teeth are found in the dental pulp. It was found by the researchers that the pulp can offer a lot of different variety of cells like the adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteoblasts etc. However it was also found that if a tooth which had an infection or trauma in the past looses it property of regeneration by the odontoblasts.
What are the stem cell source in our teeth?
- Deciduous teeth- healthy tooth are a good source of stem cells.
- Wisdom teeth – the tooth shall not be sectioned during the time of the extraction because it looses the stem cells during the process.
- Permanent teeth – Healthy tooth are a good source of stem cells than infected or carious teeth.
If not the teeth can we get stem cells from anywhere else in the mouth?
Yes stem cells can be retrieved from the following areas:
- Periodontal ligament stem cells
- Stem cells from apical papilla
- Dental follicle progenitor cell
What’s the scope of stem cell research in dentistry?
- Regeneration of dentin, pulp
- Studies are in the process for the regeneration of the pulp tissue using stem cells. However there are lot of advantages if the research work comes into practice. The stem cells can be utilized in a lot of treatments like stem cells can be used for regeneration of the pulp of a non-vital tooth to avoid root canal treatment.
- Regeneration of Periodontal Membrane
- Similarly the stem cells can be used for the generation of the periodontal membrane and the cementum if exposed to right amount of signals and growth factors which can be a revolutionary change in the field of periodontics (specialization in gums).
- Regeneration of craniofacial defects
- Stem cells have the property to develop into specific parts of your face or the skull which can be used to fill the defects which develop post major surgeries and birth defects etc.
How can we store stem cells?
The stem cells are stored in special laboratories by the process of cryopreservation in top screwed glass vials.
What is cryopreservation?
It is the process of cooling the cells quickly to a subzero degree temperature at -196 degree Celsius, impending any cellular action. This way the cells can be used at the time of need for individual activity.
How can I preserve my stem cells?
Dr. Rajat Sachdeva’s Dental Institute, Ashok Vihar suggests that everyone should get there stem cell preserved because as the research is advancing soon we will be using the stem cells for solving a lot of dental problem. So hurry up for any further query book a consultation with the best dentist in Delhi Dr. Rajat Sachdeva.
We have a collaboration with Stem eight laboratory for all our stem cell preservations.
