23/07/2025
Stem cells from wisdom teeth, dubbed “medical gold,” are gaining attention for their potential in treating various diseases.
According to Earth.com, the dental pulp within every wisdom tooth contains dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which can differentiate into tissues like neurons, bone, cartilage, and heart muscle—similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells but easier to harvest and ethically uncontroversial since the tissue is discarded post-extraction.
Research by Dr. Gaskon Ibarretxe at the University of the Basque Country has demonstrated that DPSCs can be guided to become electrically active neuron-like cells, offering hope for treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
In rodent studies, these cells have improved motor function and reduced toxic protein buildup in the brain.
Beyond neurology, DPSCs show promise in regenerating bone and cartilage for orthopedic and dental uses, and in mice with heart failure, they have enhanced cardiac function.
A key advantage is that DPSCs can be banked from a person’s own teeth, eliminating immune rejection risks and the need for donor matching.
While clinical trials are still needed to validate long-term safety and efficacy, the rapid progress suggests that this once-discarded tissue could transform regenerative medicine, potentially addressing conditions from spinal cord injuries to heart disease as of July 19, 2025.
