Stem Cells From Baby Teeth? An Austin Company Says Yes
Embryonic stem cells have been all over the news lately, but stem cells come from other places as well.
In addition to embryos, stem cells are also found in umbilical cords. An option for new parents is to store it in a cord blood bank, in the event the stem cells are needed in the future.
But now, thanks to a company in Austin, parents have another option: storing their kids' baby teeth.
The company is called BioEden. It's located in Austin, and it's the only place in the world that is extracting stem cells from baby teeth.
Is it an option that's right for you? KXAN's Kate Weidaw checked it out.
Six-year-old Kalie Stevens has a big smile that's about to change.
She's got two very loose teeth. But instead of sending them to the tooth fairy, mom could send them to the BioEden tooth cell bank.
"We extract the pulp from children's primary teeth, cultivate it, extract cells from that and cryogenically store it for future use," said BioEden Director of Communications Robin Remaley.
In 2003, stem cells similar to the ones found in umbilical cords were discovered in children's primary teeth.
"When the tooth comes out, there is a little tiny hole in it, and in the hole, that is where the pulp of the tooth," Remaley said. "And that's where the cells are contained."
Unlike the stem cells from the umbilical cord which are currently used for treating diseases, BioEden scientists say it could be five to 10 years before research is advanced to use stem cells from primary teeth to treat diseases like Alzheimer's as well as to regenerate bone, teeth and nerve cells.
"We don't know what the potential is for these cells we just know that it's there," Remaley said.
And that's what parents are banking on with BioEden.
Here's how it works: When one of the 12 primary teeth falls out, you have 48 hours to get it in the kit, wrap it in the freezer pack, pack it in the Ziploc bag and ship it out.
Call it an investment in the future of science.
"As of now, we're the only ones in the world to do it," Remaley said.
The cost is a one-time processing fee of $595 and a yearly storage fee of $89.
BioEden says they believe it's cheaper than storing cord blood.
