Dental Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Successful bone repair is of immense clinical importance. Bone fractures are among the most common injuries encountered and inappropriate healing, estimated to 5–10 %, is expected to further increase along with the increase of the aging population. Cell-based therapies provide an alternative to bone grafting by preventing bone loss and reducing grafting morbidity. Apart from the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, a multitude of mesenchymal stem cells from different tissues exhibit osteogenic potential. Among them, mesenchymal stem cells of dental origin, initially isolated but not restricted to the dental pulp, seem to hold a prominent position in the field of bone regeneration. This chapter aims to present the different types of dental stem cells with emphasis on their osteogenic properties and in vivo applications in animal models of bone repair.