College of Dentistry Tooth Collection

ATTENTION: INCOMING DENTAL STUDENTS
Project to be started immediately upon acceptance

Each dental student must collect a minimum of 25-50 extracted teeth (Anterior, Premolar &
Molar) to be used for identification, dissection and restoration in the Dental Anatomy, Operative,and Endodontic courses. Please contact your local dentist and request that he/she collect these teeth for you.

According to guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, when extracted teeth are to be used for educational or research purposes they must be handled in the following manner:

1. Extracted teeth are classified as clinical specimens and should be handled using
   universal precautions (gloves, mask, protective eye wear, proper cleanup with
   disinfectant wipes, etc.). After use they must be disposed of as medical waste.
2. All extracted teeth must be stored in 10% formalin and this container must be marked
   appropriately to identify its contents and its biohazardous nature.
3. All specimens should be stored in a securely sealed specimen container with a
   sufficient amount of liquid:
   
   Sodium Hypochlorite “Common household bleach” (Clorox), diluted 1:10 with
   tap water (5,000 ppm of available chlorine) can be used instead of the 10%
   formalin.
   
   Before manipulating extracted teeth for education or research they first should
   be cleaned of adherent patient material (by scrubbing with detergent and water,
   or by using an ultrasonic cleaner). Then the teeth should be stored in a fresh
   solution of diluted bleach.

Please prepare a sturdy wide-mouth jar with a tight fitting lid and fill it with the bleach solution.

You should check occasionally to see if the liquid needs to be replaced. Keep the jar closed and do not touch or handle the teeth before requested to do so in a College of Dentistry setting.You can continue to collect extracted teeth throughout your freshman year. You cannot have too many teeth, as they will be needed during your four years of dental school.