Tooth avulsion is a severe dental trauma where the success of replantation critically depends on the viability of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) during extra-alveolar storage. Current commercial storage systems (e. g. , Save-A-Tooth®) face limitations including high cost, risk of cell detachment due to liquid turbulence, and poor accessibility, underscoring the need for a more practical and effective solution. An innovative first-aid kit was developed, featuring a solid-state agar matrix for physical tooth stabilization and a novel composite preservation solution (Solution I: Tris, GITC, EDTA, Tween-20, NaCl, NaOH). Its efficacy was compared against an HBSS-based solution (Solution II) and a Tris-based solution (Solution III). Using a rat model, avulsed teeth were stored in these solutions for 0. 5, 1, and 12 h. PDLC viability and agglomeration rates were quantitatively assessed using enzymatic digestion and CountStar analysis. The optimal saline rinsing volume was also determined. Solution I demonstrated superior performance, maintaining significantly higher PDLC viability at all time points (90. 11% at 12 h) compared to Solutions II and III (p < 0. 05). It also exhibited a significantly lower cell agglomeration rate (6. 74% vs. 16. 23% in control, p < 0. 05), indicating improved cell dispersion. Furthermore, rinsing with 6 mL of saline was identified as optimal, achieving 99. 00% cleaning efficiency. The proposed first-aid kit, integrating a solid agar stabilizer and a novel composite solution, effectively preserves PDLC viability and reduces cell clumping in vitro. Its cost-effectiveness (estimated ~ 4–5 USD/unit) and practicality address critical gaps in current avulsion management, making it a highly promising solution for emergency care, particularly in resource-limited settings. Future in vivo studies are warranted to validate its clinical efficacy for tooth replantation.
Wang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.