Stem cells: Sources, and regenerative therapies in dental research and practice

Abstract

Stem cells are considered to be among the principle scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century for the future of medicine, and considered to be an important weapon to fight against diseases, particularly those that have resisted the efforts of science for a long time. Human dental tissues have limited potentials to regenerate but the discovery of dental stem cells have developed new and surprising scenario in regenerative dentistry. Stem cell treatments are one example of the has been shown to produce bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, and other connective tissues, The effectiveness of stem cells can be attributed to many factors such as: Stem cells can be expanded ex vivo, thus a small number of them can be sufficient to heal large defects or to treat diseases. Stem cells in the presence of vasculature may elaborate and organize tissues in vivo. Also they may play an important role in regulating local and systemic immune reactions of the host favoring tissue regeneration.