Stem Cells - A new Generation of Regeneration

Stem cells are the class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into any specialized cell type. Teeth contain a rich source of highly potent stem cells which can be easily collected & stored for future medical & dental use. Tooth loss or absence is a common & frequent situation that can result from numerous pathologies such as periodontal diseases, dental caries, fractures, injuries and genetic alterations. For aesthetical, psychological & medical reasons, replacement of missing teeth is important. Modern dentistry for replacing missing teeth utilizes advances in stem cell biology. Emerging concepts in tissue engineering i.e. biological teeth may become an alternative for replacing missing teeth. This poster presents the idea to cultivate stem cells with odontogenic induction through epithelial - mesenchymal interaction, to adopt dental lineages with the help of scaffold /extracellular matrix to become a part of the tooth. Keywords: stem cell, tissue engineering, tooth regeneration