FAQ's
What are Cells?
Cells make up all the body’s tissue and organs such as the heart, liver, brain, and skin. Cells serve both a structural and a functional role, performing a wide range of actions to enable the body to work in a normal and healthy state. Most cells in the body have already become what they are programmed to become and will not change. This means, for example, that a heart cell will always be a heart cell and a liver cell will always be a liver cell.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells can divide and change into particular types of cells, which under controlled conditions, can grow into organs, bones and tissue, or developed stem cells can work on repairing the immune system. In fact, stem cells can create replacement cells for those that are lost or damaged by injury or disease
What are tooth stem cells?
Tooth stem cells are stem cells found in the “deciduous” or “baby” teeth of children. Recent studies show that baby teeth stem cells appear to have the ability to develop into more types of body tissue than other types of stem cells. This difference opens the door to more therapeutic applications.
What can tooth stem cells do for my child?
Stem cell therapy is emerging as a revolutionary new way to treat disease and injury, with wide-ranging medical benefits. It works by introducing stem cells into an area where the normal cells have lost their function due to disease or damage. The stem cells then replace or repair the damaged cells and restore normal function.
Is there a difference between baby teeth and wisdom teeth?
Although it has been known for several years that wisdom teeth will yield valuable cell populations, research has found that those cell populations have less therapeutic potential than the cell populations found in primary, or "baby" teeth. For example, baby teeth cells more readily form neural tissue, and have the demonstrated ability to form bone and fatty tissue as well, which has not been achieved with wisdom teeth cells.
What illnesses can stem cells treat?
Click here for a full list of treatments that stem cells can help or that are in the process of being developed.
How are stem cell treatments being used today?
Stem cell therapy has been used successfully hundreds of times in countries around the world. It is believed that stem cell therapy may eventually offer remedies for such conditions as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, juvenile diabetes, spinal cord injury, MS, ALS, and certain forms of cancer and heart disease. Cell therapy is also being used in experiments to graft new skin cells to treat serious burn victims, and to grow new corneas for the sight-impaired. In all of these applications, the goal is for the healthy cells to become integrated into the body and begin to function like the patient's own cells. The results of these experiments have far exceeded expectations.
What are the differences between Allogeneic and Autologous stem cell transplant?
Allogeneic stem cell transplant uses donor cells from a public cell bank. An autologous stem cell transplant uses the patient’s own stem cells. There are many advantages of autologous transplant including; no immune reaction and tissue rejection of the cells, no immunosuppressive therapy needed, and significantly reduced risk of communicable diseases. BioEDEN only offers an autologous transplant option.
Can my child’s tooth stem cells be used to treat other members of my family?
Tooth stem cells can potentially be used to treat conditions in first or second degree blood relatives (siblings, parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts) in addition to the donor. Please see previous question.
What do I do when my child’s tooth becomes loose?
As soon as you’ve enrolled with BioEDEN, we’ll send you a collection kit containing all the instructions and information you’ll need to help preserve the tooth stem cells. Please also see the answer below.
What happens if my child’s tooth falls out before the collection kit arrives?
Simply place the tooth in a cup of milk in the refrigerator. If you haven’t already enrolled, then call us on 01925 607350 to complete your registration process and payment in full. We will then arrange for the collection kit to be sent to you within 24hours. If you’ve enrolled already, then call us on 01925 607350 and we can find out how soon your collection kit will be arriving.
How long do I have from when the tooth becomes loose to get it over to you?
Once it’s fallen out, you have 48 hours to get the tooth to our laboratory. Ideally, you should enrol with BioEDEN before your child’s tooth becomes loose.
Can I send any of my child’s teeth that have fallen out?
There are 12 usable teeth. Those are the Central Incisors; Lateral Incisors; and Canines. These are the top front six teeth and the lower front six teeth. There’ll be a diagram identifying these in your collection kit.
How long does it take for my child’s tooth cells to be frozen?
We will extract the cells from the tooth within 24 hours of receiving it. Upon a successful extraction following our stringent procedures and within Human Tissue Authority Certification guidelines, then we will cryogenically store the cells under your unique customer reference number. The entire BioEDEN process should take 7-10 days.
Where will the tooth cells be stored?
They’ll be stored at two locations. Firstly they’ll be stored here at our laboratory in Daresbury, Cheshire, and secondly at another remote location as an extra insurance for you.
How do you guarantee my child’s cells are secure and all information I give you is confidential?
Our laboratory is within a high protection building with 24 hour security personnel and limited access. As soon as we receive your order, we allocate you with a unique customer reference number also featuring your child’s name and date of birth. All our procedures are governed by the Human Tissue Authority and we are also bound by the Data Protection Act.
How long is the sample stored for?
The sample is stored for as long as you maintain your contract with us.
Who owns my child’s tooth cells?
Ownership of the child’s tooth cells belongs to the parent or legal guardian until the child’s 18th birthday. Then full ownership is passed to them.
What happens if BioEDEN Ltd ceases trading or is taken over?
BioEDEN Ltd has a fully comprehensive insurance policy to cover the continued safe storage of your child’s tooth cells for the duration of your contract.
What are the costs?
The enrolment fee for the first child is £950 and subsequent children are £780 each. However we offer a 10% discount if you enrol your child before their 6th birthday. Subsequent children are £780 each. Each subsequent child must be registered with the same guardian.
Do you inform me after freezing my child’s tooth stem cells?
Yes, we send you out a certificate verifying your child’s tooth stem cells have been successfully stored.
What happens if you cannot extract any tooth stem cells from my child’s tooth?
We will send you a letter immediately informing you that the process has been unsuccessful. If your child still has viable teeth left, then we will complete the process again free and as part of our service.
What if my child has no more viable teeth?
If we have failed to isolate any tooth stem cells from your child's tooth, and we verified there are no more viable teeth left in the child's mouth, then we will refund you in full less the cost of postage and packing.
What do you do with my child’s tooth stem cells over the years?
We store them on the registered child’s behalf and we continue to do so for as long as you maintain your contract with us.
What happens if I stop paying the service fees?
If you stop paying the service fees, we reserve the right to remove the cells from storage.
What happens if I need access to the tooth stem cells?
You will need to send us a written request with details of your medical doctor or hospital manager. They will be responsible for collecting the cells.