Prospects for tooth regeneration in the 21st century: A perspective

Abstract

The prospects for tooth regeneration in the 21st century are compelling. Using the foundations of experimental embryology, developmental and molecular biology, the principles of biomimetics (the mimicking of biological processes), tooth regeneration is becoming a realistic possibility within the next few decades. The cellular, molecular, and developmental "rules" for tooth morphogenesis are rapidly being discovered. The knowledge gained from adult stem cell biology, especially associated with dentin, cartilage, and bone tissue regeneration, provides additional opportunities for eventual tooth organogenesis. The centuries of tooth development using xenotransplantation, allotransplantation, and autotransplantation have resulted in many important insights that can enhance tooth regeneration. In considering the future, several lines of evidence need to be considered: (1) enamel organ epithelia and dental papilla mesenchyme tissues contain stem cells during postnatal stages of life; (2) late cap stage and bell stage tooth organs contain stem cells; (3) odontogenic adult stem cells respond to mechanical as well as chemical "signals"; (4) presumably adult bone marrow as well as dental pulp tissues contain "odontogenic" stem cells; and (5) epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are pre-requisite for tooth regeneration. The authors express "guarded enthusiasm," yet there should be little doubt that adult stem cell-mediated tooth regeneration will be realized in the not too distant future. The prospects for tooth regeneration could be realized in the next few decades and could be rapidly utilized to improve the quality of human life in many nations around the world.

Recent advances in craniofacial morphogenesis

“…Tissue regeneration is another area with many exciting new developments based on research advancements in developmental and evolutionary biology (Chai and Slavkin, 2003). The recent convergence of the human genome project and scientific advances toward understanding the molecular regulation of craniofacial morphogenesis, stem cell biology, and biotechnology offer unprecedented opportunities to realize craniofacial tissue regeneration.…”

The Role of Lysyl Oxidase-like 2 in the Odontogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

“…Stem cell based strategies show promising potential for regenerating the entire tooth structure in rodents (Chai and Slavkin, 2003;Duailibi et al, 2004). Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent progenitor cells that divide many times, and their progeny eventually give rise to skeletal tissues: cartilage, bone, tendon, ligament, marrow stroma, and dental tissues.…”

Lipopolysaccharide promotes adhesion and migration of murine dental papilla-derived MDPC-23 cells via TLR4

“…Regeneration of a functional and living tooth is considered the most promising therapeutic strategy for the replacement of a damaged tooth (16)(17)(18). Odontoblasts that are a part of the outer surface of the dental pulp play a role in tooth repair and the regeneration process as well as in the inflammatory response.…”