Wisdom teeth may be more biologically valuable than they look. Inside their soft dental pulp is a population of dental pulp stem cells capable of developing into several specialized cell types. These cells are especially interesting because wisdom teeth are routinely extracted and discarded, making them a relatively accessible source of a person’s own stem cells without collecting them from bone marrow. Researchers have already shown strong potential for bone regeneration. In laboratory and animal studies, DPSCs can become bone-forming cells, promote blood-vessel formation and help regenerate damaged bone when combined with suitable biological scaffolds. Their origin makes them particularly interesting for neuroscience too. Dental pulp stem cells arise from neural-crest tissue during development and can display neuron-like characteristics under laboratory conditions. Researchers are studying their ability to support nerve growth, reduce inflammation and release molecules that protect damaged neural tissue. Heart research has also explored DPSCs and the substances they release for repairing damage after cardiac injury. Much of the apparent benefit appears to come not simply from turning into heart cells, but from releasing signaling molecules that encourage blood-vessel growth, regulate inflammation and support surrounding tissue. But these applications are still largely experimental. There is not currently an established treatment where doctors take your wisdom tooth and use its stem cells to routinely repair your brain, heart or bones. Most evidence outside dentistry remains preclinical. So throwing away a wisdom tooth may technically mean throwing away an unusual source of stem cells—but turning those cells into reliable treatments for major organ damage is the challenge scientists are still working to solve. Source: PubMed; Stem Cells International; BMC Oral Health