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Can Wisdom Teeth Stem Cells Treat Corneal Scarring?

Oct 22nd, 2025

Why Corneal Scarring is a Problem

A scarred or scratched cornea can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. Millions of people worldwide suffer from corneal damage each year, and current treatment options are limited. Donor corneas or tissue transplants are often the standard, but these approaches come with significant challenges and risks.

Current Treatment Options and Their Limitations

  • Donor corneas: Scarcity of available tissue makes treatment difficult for many patients.
  • Donor tissue transplantation: The recipient’s body may reject the implanted tissue, reducing success rates.

These limitations have prompted researchers to explore alternative solutions, including the surprising possibility that teeth might hold the key.

Wisdom Teeth Stem Cells: A Potential Solution

Recent research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that stem cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be transformed into cornea cells, called keratocytes. Because these cells share the same embryonic origin as corneal cells, they may integrate more effectively into damaged corneas and reduce the risk of rejection.

This discovery suggests that wisdom teeth pulp could serve as a renewable source of stem cells for corneal scarring treatment and other regenerative therapies.

Early Research Results

  • Tested on laboratory mice, the keratocytes integrated perfectly into the corneas.
  • No signs of tissue rejection were observed during these initial tests.
  • Researchers plan further testing on additional animal models to validate the pulp’s effectiveness.

Future Implications

According to Dr. Syed-Picard from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Ophthalmology, dental pulp stem cells have demonstrated potential for regenerating neural, bone, and other tissues. If ongoing research confirms these findings, wisdom teeth stem cells could revolutionize corneal scarring treatment, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.

Who would have thought that wisdom teeth could one day play a role in restoring vision?

For more information, visit the original source.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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