" The Use Of Stem Cells In The Surgical Treatment Of Cleft Palate "

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells, pluripotent and differentiable cells found naturally within bone marrow, adipose tissue, the blood of the umbilical cord, and dental pulp have the capability to transform the field of oral surgery. With the capability to differentiate into different types of tissue, stem cells are currently being studied as an alternative to autologous bone grafting for treatment of cleft palate in young children. The long-standing treatment of autologous bone-grafting, while very effective, has many risks associated with it such as graft rejection, post-operative morbidity, and long recovery time. The harvesting and transplantation of stem cells using bio-compatible scaffolding that will differentiate and form new bone tissue is the future of valvuloplasty protocol in the field of oral surgery. This paper will investigate the way in which this treatment will be performed, the advantages and risks of stem cell therapy, the future applications, as well as the issue of global accessibility to innovative treatment such as this.