First Ever Clinical Study Shows Dental Stem Cells Regrow Bone

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Dentistry
Article Date: 10 Dec 2009 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

In a statement today, StemSave(TM), Inc., the market leader in the field of stem cell recovery and cryo-preservation lauds research published in the November issue of the European Cells and Materials Journal citing the reconstruction of the human mandible bone with autologous dental pulp stem cells. StemSave commends Italian researchers from the 2nd University of Naples for their groundbreaking work.

This marks the first time dental stem cell research has moved from the laboratory to human clinical trials. The repair and regeneration of bone is particularly significant for the oral maxillofacial field because the repair of these bones, which aid in orofacial functions like speech, chewing, swallowing and facial expressions are extremely intricate and complex.

According to Dr. David Matzilevich, M.D., Ph.D., Science Advisor to StemSave, "These clinical studies are so significant because autologous dental stem cells were expanded in vitro and for the purpose of oro-maxillofacial bone repair. These cells also facilitated the graft, eliminating immunologic complications such as rejection or excessive inflammation. This is compelling because it creates an environment which proves to be more favorable and successful for new mandibular bone to grow. This approach also appears superior to current methodologies utilizing cadaverous tissue or grafting tissue from another part of the body. I am very excited that dental stem cells have emerged as critical players in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine now that they have been proven to differentiate into multiple lineages."

"This breakthrough clinical study, which uses the patient's own stem cells harvested from their teeth to repair bone, is the first of what we believe will be an expanding number of applications to treat a broad array of disease, trauma and injury. And because dental stem cells are easy to recover as part of routine dental procedures, this represents the first of many upcoming uses in the field of personal and regenerative medicine and supports the wisdom of banking your own stem cells from your teeth," said Art Greco, CEO of StemSave, Inc.

Source
StemSave, Inc.

• Additional
• References
• Citations