Regenerative endodontic: current progress

Abstract

Dental trauma occurs frequently in children and often can lead to pulpal necrosis. When pulp tissue becomes necrotic in immature teeth, the prognosis of the teeth is compromised because of the root(s) presents several challenges including difficulties in cleaning and shaping large canals with open apices, obturation of canals with open apices, and potential root fractures caused by thin and /or weakened root walls. An optimal approach for treating the immature permanent tooth with necrotic pulp would be to regenerate functional pulpal tissue that fosters continued root development and immune competency. This article will review the early attempts to regenerate pulp tissue and current progress and feasible strategies of tissue engineering in endodontics, and dental pulp regeneration.