A comparative study of exfoliated deciduous teeth as a source of stem cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the different isolation and cultivation techniques that can be used to isolate stem cell from exfoliated deciduous teeth. A total of 32 children between 5-12 ages were included to study. Teeth were grouped as incisors (n=10), primary canines (n=11) and primary molars (n=11). Pulp cells were obtained from the teeth having sufficient pulp tissue. After isolation and culture of pulp cells, they were stained with stem cell markers in order to see if they have stem cells and the prevalence of stem cell in the tissue. Additionally, apoptosis/proliferation balance in the tissue also searched by staining the apoptosis and proliferation markers, such as TUNEL and Ki-67, respectively. Incisors were found to be inappropriate source for stem cell, since they do not have sufficient pulp tissue. On the other hand, primary canines and primary molars were found to most appropriate source to obtain sufficient number of stem cells. When primary canines compared to primary molars, we did not see any significant difference in terms of obtainment of stem cell. Similarly, we did not find any significant difference between two groups when apoptosis/proliferation balance was compared.