A new ray of hope in Dentistry: Stem Cells

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely and that can also differentiate into more mature cells with specialized functions. Because of this regenerative capacity, stem cells have the potential to regenerate tissues, and are the basis for the new field of regenerative medicine. Regenerative dentistry is a new dental field comprising biomedical, translational and clinical research on the use of stem cells for regeneration of defective tissues in the oro-maxillofacial region. Researchers have in hand populations of stem cells that reproducibly reform bone and its marrow, cementum, dentin, and perhaps even periodontal ligament, it is possible to obtain complete restoration of the hard tissues in the oral cavity using the patient's own cells, thereby avoiding issues of histocompatibility. Replacing dental tissues with either stem cell or gene based therapy may be complicated or impossible some times, thus highlighting the need for more research to understand potential complicating factors.