Stem cell therapy: Dental aspects

Abstract

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. Presently dental treatment for missing teeth largely utilize partial or complete dentures and titanium implants which are not equivalent, neither in function nor esthetics, to natural teeth. However, progress in stem cell biology and tissue engineering may present new options for replacing heavily damaged or lost teeth, or even individual tooth structures. This review summarizes the emerging concepts of whole-tooth replacement strategies and challenges in the field of dentistry.