Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Abstract

A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH: DENTAL STEM CELL BANKING IN INDIA

Vanishree N, Chaithra V, Amandeep Pabbla

Regenerative medicine is based on stem cells.The dental pulp contains the progenitor/stem cells which have the self renewal capability, multi-lineage differentiation capacity and clonogenic efficiency. Dental stem cells can generate many types of tissues including bone, nerve, cartilage, teeth and fat. However teeth can actually be a rich source of stem cells. Deciduous teeth or the so-called milk teeth and wisdom teeth have an abundance of stem cells. Stem cells have become the rage across the world after the health potential emerged some years ago. For years scientists all over the world have been working on possibilities of using these stem cells to regenerate human cells which are damaged due to illness, developmental defects and accidents. Recently stem cell banks are present, and even some of these banks do not only freeze cord stem cells but also dental stem cells of baby teeth. Hence this paper reviews the history, current concepts, evolution of stem cells in dentistry, dental stem cell banking in India, characterization of the stem cells in dentin regeneration and stem cell therapy in dentistry.

Published Date: 2011-12-31;