Can Glycerol Be Used as an Effective Alternative Storage Medium for Avulsed Teeth Before Replantation?

Introduction For successful replantation of avulsed teeth, preserving the vitality of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells of the avulsed tooth is important. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usage of glycerol by comparing its different concentrations with the gold standard medium, i.e., Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). Glycerol is a cryoprotective agent used in many cell preservation studies, but has never been used earlier as a storage medium for avulsed human teeth. Methods PDL cells were obtained from healthy human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes from children aged eight to 15 years old and cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM). The cultures were exposed for one, six, 12, and 24 hours to various experimental solutions at 37°C. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. Results The mean viability of HBSS was the highest amongst the three experimental solutions, followed by diluted 10% glycerol, and least in pure glycerol. Conclusion Preparation of 10% glycerol was effective as a short-term storage medium. We recommend the formulation of various concentrations of glycerol and determining its clinical effectiveness.