Specialists from the Russian University of Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation have learned to isolate stem cells from shed or extracted deciduous teeth, Oleg Yanushevich, the rector of the university, told TASS. The obtained material is considered as a basis for a future cryobank: cells can be frozen and stored after the loss of deciduous teeth, and then used in restorative dentistry.

The next task is to form a full-fledged tooth germ from the stored material, which will turn into a new tooth after transplantation. Japanese researchers have already achieved the formation of bioengineered germs and their subsequent development in animal experiments. For patients who have lost a large number of teeth, this approach could potentially become an alternative to traditional prosthetics.

The implementation of the method into clinical practice is still far off: the Russian group has so far only worked out the source and reserve of its own cells. The technology is considered as one of the possible ways to restore chewing function.