Dental Stem Cells and Their Potential Role in Regenerative Medicine

Advances have been made in identifying dental stem cells and their differentiation potential. Five different types of dental stem cells have been isolated from dental soft tissues: dental pulp, apical papilla, dental follicle and periodontal ligament. The characteristic features of these cells have been explored. They express various arrays of biomarkers including those specific for mesenchymal and/or embryonic stem cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that these stem cells varied in their proliferation and differentiation potential. Recent studies have demonstrated their wide range of plasticity and their potential use for regenerative medicine and dentistry. This article summarizes information available on the different types of dental stem cells and discusses their potential use in regenerative medicine.