Mesenchymal stem cells and tissue engineering in dentistry

Conventional treatments rely on the removal of damaged or impaired tissues, followed by the use of restorative materials. However, the inability to regenerate a functional tooth complex simulating its original structure remains a major unmet treatment objective. Tissue engineering is an amalgamation of engineering and biological principles that aims to not just remove diseased tissue but also replicate and repair lost structures. This evolutionary concept draws from three key elements: cells, an extracellular matrix scaffold, and signaling molecules. Though tissue engineering has come a long way in regenerative medicine, its future in dentistry is promising too. Tissue engineering approaches in dentistry harbor the potential of inducing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of dental origin to combine with biocompatible scaffold, and growth factors to create a three-dimensional environment for regeneration and repair of a fully functional tooth complex. This chapter summarizes the application of mesenchymal stem cells and tissue engineering in dentistry.