Presenters: Tegan Hintze
Authors: Brianna Reed, Tegan Hintze
Faculty Advisor: Brenda Armstrong
Institution: Dixie State University
One of the newest discoveries within regenerative medicine is dental derived stem cells that have the ability to grow and differentiate into different cell types. Oral disease and tissue loss affects a majority of the American population and dental-derived stem cells may be the solution to this problem. A literature search was conducted using Pubmed database and terms dental stem cells and dental mesenchymal stem cells to determine how dental stem cells can influence tissue replacement systemically and in the oral cavity. Results from the literature indicate stem cells cultivated from dental tissue can provide therapeutic and restorative treatment to oral diseases and further benefits among systemic diseases. Dental mesenchymal cells can be cultured with minimal invasiveness through different preservation methods of natural exfoliation of primary teeth and extracted diseased teeth. Professionals and researchers hope that dental mesenchymal stem cells can contribute multipotent differentiations through tissue regeneration, improved physiological functions, vasculation, etc. The reviewed research indicates the transplantation of dental stem cells can be useful in reducing probing pocket depths, repairing damaged tooth structures and inducing bone regeneration. Additional research indicates dental stem cells can show potential for neuroprotection from neural injuries, excelled histopathology of skeletal tissues, diabetic treatment of insulin-producing cells, and more. Preserving dental stem cells could indicate use for self-regeneration and donation among many others. Some researchers believe that dental-derived stem cells are not ready to be implemented into therapy due to limited advanced technology and research support. In conclusion, dental stem cell treatments have great potential relating to dental hygiene care and many other applications, but further research must be conducted. Efforts of studies showing both statistical and clinical significance of dental stem cell therapy among patients with a variety of demographics and periodontal cases will still continue to be proven through modern evidence-based research.