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Teeth may be the solution to spinal cord injuries.
Scientists concluded that teeth have the potential to repair broken spines at some point, thanks to a study that included stem cells and broken spines in rats.
The researchers were from Nagoya University in Japan. They infused dental stem cells into the spinal cord tissues of rats with broken backs. They discovered that dental pulp kept the cells alive. They also regenerated damaged nerves, allowing new cells to grow and aid the spinal cord.
The rats later showed proof of movement in their legs after the transplant, which is a positive sign for people with spinal cord injuries.
More information involving this study is needed before these procedures could be implemented with people. An area in which more data is necessary involves prolonged transplant, meaning what would the result be if the trials didn’t include immediate transplantation.
Stem cells can be successfully taken from adult wisdom teeth without any harmful effects to the person. Ethically, however, that may not be the best move.
Still, this study may provide a glimmer of hope for people with spinal cord injuries. It may not be implemented in humans soon enough to help them but it’s plausible that the procedure may one day solve spinal cord injuries or paralysis.
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