Dental stem cells in tooth regeneration and repair in the future

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Human dental stem cells can be obtained from postnatal teeth, extracted wisdom teeth or exfoliated deciduous teeth. Due to their differentiation potential, these mesenchymal stem cells are promising for tooth repair. Therefore, the development of dental tissue regeneration represents a suitable but challenging, target for dental stem cell therapies.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors provide an overview of human dental stem cells and their properties for regeneration medicine. Numerous preclinical studies have shown that dental stem cells improve bone augmentation and healing of periodontal diseases. Clinical trials are ongoing to validate the clinical feasibility of these approaches. Dental stem cells are also important for basic research.

Expert opinion: Dental stem cells offer numerous advantages for tooth repair and regeneration. Data obtained from different studies are encouraging. In the next few years, investigations on dental stem cells in basic research, pre-clinical research and clinical studies will pave the way to optimizing patient-tailored treatments for repair and regeneration of dental tissues.

KEYWORDS:

• Dental stem cells
• tissue engineering
• periodontitis
• endodontics
• bone regeneration
• dental implants

Article highlights

• Dental mesenchymal stem cells can be obtained from human dental tissues including the dental pulp (DP) and the periodontal ligament (PDL).

• DP stem cells (DPSCs) are considered for a number of cell therapies including neural tissue regeneration.

• DPSCs were successfully tested in preclinical and clinical pilot study for dental pulp regeneration.

• PDL stem cells were successfully tested in preclinical and clinical pilot studies for the regeneration of the periodontium.

• Stem Cells from the dental follicle and the peri-apical papilla are highly considered for the generation of a biological tooth root and for the regeneration of alveolar bone.

• Dental stem cells are important for basic research but probably not suitable for whole tooth regeneration.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

C. Morsczeck is the co-inventor of patent WO/03/066840. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript has not been funded.