Dental Stem Cells- The New Era of Dentistry

ABSTRACT

Tissue engineering is a science based on the fundamental principles involving the identification of appropriate cells, the development of conductive scaffolds and the understanding of the morphogenic signals required to induce cells to regenerate a tissue or an organ (Karien, 2009). Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas of biology today. They are the key elements for tissue engineering. For years, scientists all over the world have been working on the possibilities of using the stem cells to regenerate human cells that are damaged due to illness, developmental defects and accidents. The discovery of dental stem cells and the recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that aim at regeneration of oral tissues that were injured by disease or trauma.