Stem cells, scaffolds, and growth factors in dental tissue engineering

Abstract

Dental health is an important part of general health and well-being. Dental caries, periodontitis, dental trauma, and abnormality of dental development are prevalent dental diseases. Although the efficacy of current dental treatments is witnessed, consequential complications are objective. Dental tissue engineering aims to treat dental patients in a less invasive and relatively safe manner. It is entrenched in the principle that stem cells, scaffolds, and growth factors could be used to create serviceable substitutes. Stem cells are inoculated in vivo or in vitro onto a biocompatible scaffold material that is initially shaped into a defective tissue-like structure, and then regulated by growth factors to form a living composite with a certain spatial configuration that functions in the defective tissue. This article elucidates the concepts and functions of the three parts in dental tissue engineering, aiming to provide empirical implications for dental researchers and clinicians alike.