Dental Stem Cells: A Gateway to Regenerative Dentistry and Medicine
Dental stem cells (DSCs) have emerged as a pivotal resource in the evolving fields of regenerative medicine and dentistry, owing to their accessibility, ethical acceptability, and multipotent to pluripotent capabilities. Sourced primarily from dental pulp, exfoliated deciduous teeth, and periodontal tissues, DSCs demonstrate robust potential to differentiate into various cell lineages, including osteoblasts, neurons, hepatocytes, insulin-producing cells, and cardiomyocytes. This review explores the origin, classification, and biological properties of embryonic, fetal, and adult stem cells, with a dedicated focus on DSCs. It discusses the current and potential therapeutic applications of DSCs in treating neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, liver conditions, ocular defects, and bone regeneration. The manuscript also emphasizes the significance of DSC banking, technological advances in their isolation and application, and the molecular mechanisms underpinning their regenerative capacity. By integrating recent findings and clinical insights, the study underscores DSCs as a promising, minimally invasive, and patient-specific tool for future personalized regenerative therapies.
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