Tissue Engineering Strategies for Tooth and Dento-alveolar Region with Engineered Biomaterial and Stem Cells

This chapter summarizes the progress made in the therapeutic application of adult multipotent stem cells, in conjunction with biomaterials for regeneration of whole tooth and associated structures. The management of edentulous space and alveolar bone resorption, following extraction of tooth or periodontal pathology, represents a major challenge in clinical dentistry. Additionally, the precise role of surface topography and its chemical constituents for dental implants in the dynamics of osseointegration and alveolar bone regeneration (used for replacing those missing teeth) remains poorly understood. Hence, a broader therapeutic strategy, involving interdisciplinary knowledge-based approach from scientist to clinicians, is essential for the development of engineered nanostructure biomaterials with exogenous or endogenous mesenchymal stem cells for translating the evolved cross-disciplinary concepts into clinical application and products.