preserving teeth

[heartsclovers]

Hi guys,

I'm a predental student, but I thought that you guys might know about this. I recently got some actual teeth from a dentist I shadow for, and he said that I should keep them because I'll be needing them for dental school. How exactly do you preserve them? He mentioned possibly using certain percentages of alcohol and glycerine, but he doesn't really remember how he did it back in the day.

Thanks!!!

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[tinker bell]

I would say 20% of bleach in water. Don't use alcohol. Collect as many as possible to save your life in second year

 

[heartsclovers]

thanks for the quick response. so like just plain bleach (like clorox bleach)? and that same solution could preserve the teeth for several years? (I'm planning to apply to dental schools in '09 and enter '10). thanks!!

 

[tinker bell]

Change the solution every now and then. Teeth don't go rotten in bleach that easily. Assume you collect good teeth, not rotten carious junk

 

[toothfairy85]

10 parts water and 1 part bleach.

 

[Revellian]

If you have access to a lab supply store, I would recommend ordering some 10% buffered formalin. It's been my experience that the solutions containing bleach have a tendency to make the teeth more brittle and likely to fracture during procedures. The teeth can be stored indefinitely in the 10% buffered formalin.

 

[peridot12]

I should keep them because I'll be needing them for dental school.

Do we need teeth? Should I start gathering them? I start first year in the Fall. Should I ask OSMF/perio? Who is the best source for remaindered teeth?

THANKS!

 

[Streetwolf]

10 parts water and 1 part bleach.

I asked my operative teacher and she said 3 parts water to 1 part bleach (25% bleach solution).

Any jar that can be sealed should work. Just label it.

Chlorox is fine.

 

[armorshell]

I asked my operative teacher and she said 3 parts water to 1 part bleach (25% bleach solution).

Any jar that can be sealed should work. Just label it.

Chlorox is fine.

That seems a little on the excessive side. Minimum concentration for anti-microbialproperties of beach is something like a tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. 1:10 should be more than enough. 😛

 

[Turnerjo13]

before we can use our extracted teeth to practice on they must be stored in a phenol solution for two weeks. Also make sure not to auto clave them because it will make them unusable.

 

[DrSmiles12]

Hi guys,

I'm a predental student, but I thought that you guys might know about this. I recently got some actual teeth from a dentist I shadow for, and he said that I should keep them because I'll be needing them for dental school. How exactly do you preserve them? He mentioned possibly using certain percentages of alcohol and glycerine, but he doesn't really remember how he did it back in the day.

Thanks!!!

I just brush and floss mine daily... They seem to stay pretty good.

 

[tinman831]

It never hurts to start collecting teeth early. Because not all of the teeth you get may be usable in your dental school courses. Usually a 1:10 bleach/water solution is fine. Change out the solution every few months or so. You don't have to buy any special chemicals or anything.

 

[Streetwolf]

That seems a little on the excessive side. Minimum concentration for anti-microbialproperties of beach is something like a tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. 1:10 should be more than enough. 😛

I emailed her and asked if I should use 1:10. She replied with 1:3. I mean she speaks in broken english and whatnot, but those are numbers!

 

[SuperC]

Here is a tip I wish I knew...

You will be told that you need to autoclave your teeth prior to using them. DO NOT DO THIS!!!! It basically ruins the teeth. I know people everywhere are gasping, however, wisely using PPE in lab as opposed to having #9 shatter while placing a clamp (happened today) sounds a lot better.

-C

 

[GoGatorsDMD]

If you're not going to use them for a while, use a VERY dilute bleach solution or your teeth will dissolve or become too brittle.

 

[Dukie]

If you're not going to use them for a while, use a VERY dilute bleach solution or your teeth will dissolve or become too brittle.

Exactly. We cleaned teeth to be used in endo and our prof had us clean them with bleach, but store them in just water with some listerine. If you leave them in bleach (though probably very dilute is ok), the teeth will become very brittle and won't cut properly when you try to work on them.

 

[voryue]

10% buffered formalin seems to be pretty expensive from the websites i've seen, i guess my teeth collection will have to risk it in the bleach solution.

 

[rose786]

Do all schools require you to collect teef?

 

[loved]

Do all schools require you to collect teef?

No, not all schools.
E.G.
Case Western does not.
Temple, USC does.

 

[BuckeyMcGee]

Try using peroxide, works pretty well in my experience.

 

[C equals]

Do NOT use bleach if you plan on using them to practice endo (root canals) in lab. Bleach tends to overdry them and make them brittle. The best way- but the most time consuming- is to just store them in plain tap water. Change them frequently - when the water gets cloudy - every day if you can. Before you store them, try cleaning them for a few days by soaking in peroxide. Then rinse and store in water. We use this procedure to save teeth and after many years they are still hydrated and usable in lab. Gave them to my son to use in dental school sim lab and they work fine!

 

[1992Corolla]

I would use sodium hypochlorite. But what do I know I am only 1/2 Dr.🙄

 

[bodiddely]

Tissue samples for biopsies are preserved in formalin, which is basically formaldehyde, water, and methanol (not sure how much cheaper it would be to make yourself but might be worth looking into)

 

[sublimeu4ea]

Tissue samples for biopsies are preserved in formalin, which is basically formaldehyde, water, and methanol (not sure how much cheaper it would be to make yourself but might be worth looking into)

We were asked to preserve our collected teeth in formalin... is that something that a dentist would have? How on earth do you go around finding formalin?

 

[NSUfutureDDS]

How early would you suggest an undergrad starts collecting teeth? Which year? Does it matter? Also... what effects would putting some teeth in mouth wash have? I honestly haven't got a clue about this step.

 

[tinman831]

The earlier you start the more teeth you have. Putting it in mouthwash may discolor the teeth.

 

[sublimeu4ea]

I was told that you can find Formalin at drugstores.

What are you guys using to store the teeth in? Glass jars?

 

[OBL1V1ON]

After reading all this on here i decided to do an informal study to find out what might be the best solution for storing teeth is. (I work in a chemical lab till school D starts, so i have access to all sorts of chemicals.)

This study is just a bunch of guesses. (no real scientific method applied here.)

I made all these solutions

1. 10% Bioperm (propylene glycol, "new less carcinogenic formaldehyde") + Glycerin
2. 30% Ethanol + Glycerin
3. 15% Bleach + Glycerin
4. 50%, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide + Glycerin
5. 10% Bioperm + Glycerin + Acetate buffer
6. 10% Bioperm + Glycerin + phosphate buffer

ill be distributing these solutions to dentists/oral surgeons in the area in the next few days....obviously i wont have any results for, perhaps, years (co 2012)...but when i do ill hopefully remember to post my experience with these various cocktails here. I may not even get to use teeth from each cocktail, but ill interview fellow students who use them if they need them. Again, i know not in the slightest bit scientific/air tight, but we'll see...

 

[SuperC]

After reading all this on here i decided to do an informal study to find out what might be the best solution for storing teeth is. (I work in a chemical lab till school D starts, so i have access to all sorts of chemicals.)

This study is just a bunch of guesses. (no real scientific method applied here.)

I made all these solutions

1. 10% Bioperm (propylene glycol, "new less carcinogenic formaldehyde") + Glycerin
2. 30% Ethanol + Glycerin
3. 15% Bleach + Glycerin
4. 50%, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide + Glycerin
5. 10% Bioperm + Glycerin + Acetate buffer
6. 10% Bioperm + Glycerin + phosphate buffer

ill be distributing these solutions to dentists/oral surgeons in the area in the next few days....obviously i wont have any results for, perhaps, years (co 2012)...but when i do ill hopefully remember to post my experience with these various cocktails here. I may not even get to use teeth from each cocktail, but ill interview fellow students who use them if they need them. Again, i know not in the slightest bit scientific/air tight, but we'll see...

Wow, this will be interesting to see how this turns out. As an aside, alcohols may dissolve synthetic teeth that many of you will use when you make your dentaform (spelling?) So keep this in mind when you actually mount the teeth.
-C