Stem cells of dental origin:
* Bone marrow stem cells
* Dentin pulp stem cells
* Periodontal ligament stem cells
* Cemetoblast like cells
* SHED(Stem cells of human exfoliated and deciduous teeth)
* Wisdom teeth
Major prospective uses of stem cells in dentistry:
Development of a new tooth
Primary teeth, wisdom tooth, jaw bones, periodontal ligament and pulp are used to regenerate an entire tooth, restore nerve cells damaged in Parkinson’s disease , correction of cleft palate and treatment of missing teeth replacing the removable dentures and implants. Eg -If a tooth is injured during an accident usually root canals are needed and the tooth dies, instead stem cell aided new pulp can be generated in a tooth.
Regenerative techniques for periodontal diseases
In the coming future, periodontium injectible gel will prove to be useful in the development of new periodontal tissues through guided tissue and bone regeneration techniques.
[Injectible gel is a mixture of ex-vivo cultured mesenchymal stem cells, ex-vivo cultured osteoblast like cells differentiated from mesenchymal stem cells and scaffold {human thrombin, platelet rich plasma and calcium chloride}]
Dentofacial orthopaedics
Mesenchymal stem cells provide a continuous supply of osteogenic cells (osteoblasts and chondroblasts) required for bone remodelling and fracture repair throughout adulthood. Therefore these cells play a significant role in the field of growth modification in orthodontics.
Fractures:
Especially delayed non union fractures.
Geno-dental interrelations:
Stem cells in the cervical loop of continuously growing mouse incisors shows that their maintenance and differentiation depends on genetic signal pathways (FGF –Fibroblast Growth Factor and Ectodysplastin)
They are used to correct defects caused by ectodermal dysplasia and cleidocranial dysplasia.
About The Author:
Dr. Dipika Bumb; www.omrcafe.blogspot.com;
Contact email: drdipikabumb@gmail.com