Deciduous teeth stem cells, promising source of stem cells: narrative literature review

Abstract

Among the most progressive types of medical-scientific research, the study with stem cells stands out. Stem cell therapy has emerged as an innovative model in the treatment of diseases and injuries, presenting numerous advantages, which guarantee it will reach the population in the future. The pulp of deciduous teeth, because it is a tissue rich in stem cells, is capable of producing different cell types and offers an easy and minimally invasive way to obtain stem cells. These cells can be isolated, cultured, and expanded in vitro, differentiated in vitro and in vivo into odontoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, endothelial cells, and neural cells. In addition, they have low reactions or rejection after transplantation and may remain undifferentiated and stable after long-term cryopreservation. This study aimed to review the literature on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and their possible applications in clinical practice. A bibliographic survey was carried out considering full texts published between 2000 and 2021 in the PUBMED database. In this review, current knowledge about stem cells obtained from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, tissue engineering approaches that use SHED, and possible applications in clinical practice were addressed. When comparing SHED with stem cells from other sources, such as stem cells from permanent teeth (DPSC), bone marrow stem cells, and stem cells from the umbilical cord, it is concluded that SHED has a higher rate of proliferation and multiplication, without ethical or legal implications, representing a new approach in regenerative therapy, being a promising alternative treatment.