Cell Engineering Potential in Regenerative Endodontics

Abstract

Dental loss is intricately linked to masticatory and digestive functions, impacting individuals' overall quality of life. The onset of dental caries, explicitly affecting the pulp, gives rise to a prevalent dental pathology recognized as carious lesions, leading to pulpitis and necrosis directly associated with morpho-functional disruptions of the pulp. Devitalized teeth exhibit a decline in trophic, protective, and proprioceptive functions. Conventional endodontic interventions carry a notable risk of complications. With a substantial loss of dental tissues, tooth fracture has an elevated likelihood, consequently diminishing the functional lifespan within the oral cavity. Contemporary dentistry aims to preserve compromised pulp tissue's vitality, facilitate the pulp-dentin complex's functional restoration, and ensure the morpho-functional unit's prolonged functional efficacy. A relatively recent avenue in endodontic therapy, Regenerative Endodontic Procedures (REPs), aligns with the interdisciplinary principles of tissue engineering. This therapeutic approach is grounded in the synergistic combination of three key elements: stem cells, growth factors, and scaffolds.