Nature's Benefaction as a Life Saver for an Avulsed Tooth: An In vitro Study

Area of Science:

• Dental Traumatology
• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Dentoalveolar trauma, particularly tooth avulsion, is a common dental emergency.
• Immediate reimplantation is the preferred treatment for avulsed teeth.
• Appropriate storage media can significantly improve the prognosis of reimplanted teeth by maintaining periodontal ligament (PDL) cell viability, preventing ankylosis and replacement resorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various storage media in preserving PDL cell viability in avulsed teeth.

Main Methods:

• 58 human premolars were subjected to dry storage for 30 minutes.
• Teeth were then immersed in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), coconut water, aloe vera, or saline for 45 minutes.
• PDL cells were isolated and quantified using a haemocytometer after enzymatic treatment, with statistical analysis performed using ANOVA and Tukey-HSD tests.

Main Results:

• Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) demonstrated the highest PDL cell viability (87.33%).
• Coconut water (79.87%) and aloe vera (70.59%) also showed promising results.
• Saline resulted in significantly lower cell viability (50.56%).

Conclusions:

• HBSS is the most effective storage medium for maintaining PDL cell viability in avulsed teeth.
• Given HBSS's limited availability in India, coconut water emerges as a highly effective natural alternative, followed by aloe vera.
• These findings offer practical guidance for managing avulsed teeth when immediate reimplantation is not feasible.