Extracted Teeth
Dental education requires the use of extracted teeth for learning purposes. It is each individual applicant’s responsibility to collect extracted teeth for use in the dental education setting. Applicants are advised to contact dentists and dental office staff from your home town or elsewhere (especially general dentists, oral surgeons & periodontists) to help you meet your collection requirements.
The following collection guidelines should be followed:
- At least 10 teeth by March of the first year of a program
- At least 30-40 additional teeth by August of the second year of a program
- Extracted teeth must be a mix of anterior (front) & posterior (back) teeth with roots intact. Wisdom teeth should be limited
- Teeth should first be disinfected in a 50% bleach/50%water solution for 72 hours
- Teeth must then be rinsed completely of the bleach solution
- Finally, teeth must be submerged in a sealed, shatter-proof container of saline solution (1g salt/100mL water) or 10% formalin for long-term storage. Do not store teeth dry. Do not store teeth in tap water
If you have any questions, regarding these collection requirements, please contact Allison Crutchfield, DMD, MPH, Assistant Dean, Pre-Clinical Education and Simulation Clinic, at 660-626-2862.