Jamaica Hospital Medical Center -- Department of Public Affairs -- 8900 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica, New York 11418
For Immediate Release
Name: Michael Hinck
Telephone: 718-206-8973
Email: mhinck@jhmc.org
Stem Cells You Can Bank On
Jun 01,2010
Contact Information:
<br>Natifia Gaines
<br>(718) 206-6020
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<br>June 1, 2010 (Jamaica, NY)--Pediatric dentists at Jamaica Hospital are now using a new and innovative medical approach to bank stem cells. They are working with StemSave Inc., the market leader in the field of stem cell recovery and cryo-preservation, to help families store stem cells collected from baby teeth, as well as permanent and wisdom teeth.
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<br>Stem cells, known for their ability to develop into different cell types in the body, are the basis of regenerative medicine and have been used in research to help the medical advancements of diseases, such as celebral palsy, diabetes, heart disease, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and more.
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<br>According to research released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Regenerative Medicine is the process of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace organ function lost due to age, disease, damage or congenital defects. The field empowers scientists to grow tissues and organs in the laboratory and safely implant them when the body cannot heal itself.”
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<br>"What makes this breakthrough significant is that it is more affordable than other stem cell banking options, the stem cells can be stored for 20 years or longer, and it gives parents a convenient opportunity to save their children's stem cells," said Dr. Silvestro Iommazzo, Associate Director Pediatric Dentistry at Jamaica Hospital. “With stem cell technology and the discovery of dental stem cells, parents have the opportunity during their children’s natural tooth development - baby teeth and wisdom teeth are ideal stem cell candidates - to recover and bank their own stem cells for potential use in the future.”
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<br>Dr. Iommazzo, along with other pediatric dentists at Jamaica Hospital, work closely with StemSave and parents to ensure that the process is safe, easy, and efficient. Dr. Iommazzo points out that collecting stem cells from teeth is non-invasive because it is done as part of routine dental procedures and at a point when the tooth is already going to come out.
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<br>Interested parents should meet with a dentist to find out if their child is a candidate for stem-cell preservation. An eligible tooth needs to have an intact blood supply and should be healthy and free from infection. The ideal baby tooth is a newly loosed canine or incisor. An excessively loose tooth or one that has already fallen out, is not a viable option because the blood supply to the dental pulp is cut off. While it is better to collect stem cells from younger patients, adults, up to approximately 55 years old, are also eligible to have stem cells collected from their teeth.
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<br>If you are interested in banking your child's stem cells from their teeth, please call 718-206-6980 to schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital's Dental Clinic.
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<br><b>Jamaica Hospital Medical Center</b> serves a population greater than 1.2 million in Queens and eastern Brooklyn. This 431-bed medical center is an accredited community teaching hospital with a large network of community-based ambulatory care centers. JHMC offers an array of acute inpatient, rehabilitation and mental health services. The hospital provides general medical, pediatric, and dental services. Last year, 30,000 patients were treated by the Dental Center. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center's mission is to serve patients and the community in a way that is second to none. For additional information, please contact Public Affairs at 718-206-6020.
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<br>StemSave, Inc. provides an affordable and non-invasive method for the recovery and cryo-preservation of the powerful Adult Stem Cells found in teeth by teaming up with dentists to harvest stem cells during routine dental procedures. For more information, visit www.StemSave.com.
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