Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Oral and Craniofacial Regeneration

Abstract

The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has been rapidly expanded through multidisciplinary integration of research and clinical practice in response to unmet clinical needs for reconstruction of dental, oral, and craniofacial structures. The significance of the various types of stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells derived from the orofacial tissues, ranging from dental pulp stem cells to periodontal ligament stem cells to mucosa/gingiva has been thoroughly investigated and their applications in tissue regeneration are outlined in this article.

Keywords: Orofacial mesenchymal stem cells; Regenerative medicine; Stem cells; Tissue engineering.