A quantitative analysis of coconut water: a new storage media for avulsed teeth.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to use a Collagenase-Dispase assay to investigate the potential of a new storage media, coconut water, in maintaining viable periodontal ligament (PDL) cells on simulated avulsed teeth. STUDY DESIGN Fifty freshly extracted human teeth were divided into 3 experimental groups and 2 control groups. The positive and negative controls corresponded to 0 minutes and an 8-hour dry time, respectively. The experimental teeth were stored dry for 30 minutes and then immersed in 1 of the 3 media: coconut water (CW), Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), and milk. The teeth were then treated with Dispase grade II and Collagenase for 30 minutes. The number of viable PDL cells were counted with a hemocytometer and analyzed. RESULTS Statistical analysis demonstrated that CW kept significantly more PDL cells viable compared to either HBSS or milk. CONCLUSION Within the parameters of this study, it appears that CW may be better alternative to HBSS or milk in terms of maintaining PDL cell viability after avulsion and storage.