Stem Cells

Inside of your body are stem cells which promote healing throughout your life. These powerful cells are different from other types of cells because they can differentiate into any type of specialized cells. By harnessing the power of stem cells, Dr. Liberty can help you invest in your future health with the opportunity to bank stem cells from wisdom teeth.

If you or your child are having wisdom teeth removed, we will discuss your stem cell banking options during the consultation. To schedule a consultation, contact Golden Foothills Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery today. We proudly offer stem cell banking services at each of our offices in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Auburn, CA.

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells naturally occur in the body and repair damaged tissues. While specialized cells can only duplicate into similar types of cells—bone cells duplicate into bone cells, for example—stem cells can differentiate into any type of specialized cell. This means that if your body needs to repair skin, muscle, nerves, bone, tissue, and more, stem cells can help by duplicating into the specialized cell you need.

There are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from embryos between 3 and 5 days old. Adult stem cells are found in most adult tissues, including the teeth. Any extracted tooth with healthy dental pulp contains stem cells that we can harvest and bank. Stem cells found in teeth can survive in a controlled environment outside of the body, such as a lab, and be used at any point in the future.

Why Bank Stem Cells?

By the time wisdom teeth develop, usually between the ages of 17 and 25, stem cell count is at an all-time high. The number of stem cells in the body declines over time. The earlier wisdom teeth stem cells are secured, the more valuable they will be in the future because there will be more of them to use.

Wisdom teeth are often extracted and discarded as medical waste, even though they contain a plethora of stem cells. Instead of throwing away these powerful cells, you and your family can bank stem cells from wisdom teeth after they are removed.

Researchers and doctors continuously develop new therapies and treatments using stem cells to treat conditions that were previously deemed impossible to treat. Some of these conditions include:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Crohn’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Injuries or trauma, including brain injuries

How Does Stem Cell Banking Work?

Banking stem cells from wisdom teeth requires no additional procedures or harvest sites. After you enroll, your oral surgeon will collect your wisdom teeth after the procedure and ship them to a secure storage facility. Then, if you or your child experience disease or injury in the future, your healthcare provider can access the stem cells for potential use in regenerative medicine.

Compared to other methods of harvesting and securing stem cells, such as through bone marrow or cord blood, banking stem cells from teeth is less invasive and more affordable. During your first visit with one of our oral surgeons, we will talk about stem cell banking and explain what to expect. We will take 3D scans to determine the size and position of your wisdom teeth and create a custom treatment plan. Whether you only need one tooth removed or more than one, you can bank them in a secure facility for future use.

Stem Cells in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Auburn, CA

By choosing to bank your or your child’s stem cells today, you are taking an active measure in protecting your future. Contact Golden Foothills Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery today to schedule your wisdom teeth removal consultation and to talk about your options for stem cell banking. You can bank stem cells following wisdom tooth extraction at our offices in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Auburn, CA.