The Science

The Science Behind Baby Tooth Stem Cells

Inside every baby tooth is soft pulp tissue that holds something remarkable: young, powerful stem cells. Scientists first identified them at the National Institutes of Health in 2003, and the researcher who discovered them first found them in his own daughter's baby tooth. Since then, research on these cells has moved from the lab into human clinical trials around the world.

CryoTooth is the new dental stem cell banking program from NECBS, the company that cares for Store-A-Tooth families' samples. Store-A-Tooth has stored dental stem cells since 2011.

Order Your CryoTooth Kit Why your child's own cells matter

Processed and stored in an FDA-registered, AABB-accredited laboratory.

Why scientists and doctors are excited

Children's own baby tooth stem cells are already being given back to them in clinical trials.

In a first-in-human trial in Japan, children with cerebral palsy received stem cells from their own baby teeth. The infusions were well tolerated, and motor function improved across all patients, with gains continuing through a full year.

Early results, reported November 2026; peer review pending.

Read the research update

The FDA has approved the first therapy made from this family of stem cells.

In December 2024, the FDA approved the first mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in the United States, for children with a serious transplant complication. Baby tooth stem cells belong to this same MSC family. About a dozen MSC therapies are approved worldwide.

Baby tooth stem cells can be turned into “master” stem cells.

Researchers can reprogram them into induced pluripotent stem cells, which can become nearly any cell type in the body, and they reprogram more efficiently than skin cells. That makes banked cells a starting point for the most advanced regenerative medicine.

They're being tested in people for conditions far beyond the mouth.

Dental stem cells have been studied in human trials for stroke recovery, type 2 diabetes, severe gum disease, bone repair and severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

They're built to last.

Stem cells have been found to still be viable after decades of cryogenic storage.

Young cells, special properties

Young and fast-growing

Stem cells from baby teeth grow and develop more readily than stem cells from adult teeth.

Closely related to nerve tissue

Tooth stem cells come from the same embryonic tissue as nerves, which is why researchers are especially interested in them for brain, nerve and spinal cord repair. Studies report they're better at forming nerve and blood vessel cells than other common adult stem cells.

Powerful healing signals

These cells release tiny packages of signals (called exosomes) that calm inflammation and support repair. Exosomes from baby tooth stem cells carried about 26 times more of one key repair-related molecule than those from adult tooth stem cells.

Where the research stands today

Being tested in human clinical trials

Regrowing living teeth: In a University of Pennsylvania-led trial published in Science Translational Medicine, children's own baby tooth stem cells regrew pulp, blood vessels and nerve tissue inside injured permanent teeth, and the teeth regained feeling.
Cerebral palsy: Children received stem cells from their own baby teeth in a first-in-human trial (early results, peer review pending).
Stroke recovery: Dental pulp stem cells were tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Japan.
Type 2 diabetes: Patients who received infusions of baby tooth stem cells saw improvements, and researchers reported the therapy safe and effective.
Gum disease: A 2025 multicenter randomized trial found dental pulp stem cells safe and better than placebo for severe gum disease.
Bone repair: Baby tooth stem cells have been used to rebuild bone in children with cleft lip and palate.

Showing promise in laboratory research

A review of 40 laboratory studies found that baby tooth stem cells had significant benefits in models of spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, nerve injury and retinitis pigmentosa, a cause of blindness.

Researchers are also exploring their potential for liver repair, heart repair after a heart attack, lupus and other autoimmune conditions, ALS and multiple sclerosis.

Saving today for the medicine of tomorrow

Regenerative medicine is moving fast. Baby tooth stem cells are already being tested in human clinical trials, including trials that use children's own cells, and the first therapy from this family of stem cells has FDA approval. Your child's baby teeth offer a limited window to save their own young stem cells. CryoTooth saves them now, so your family is ready as the science moves forward.