Tooth Regeneration: Dentin Regeneration, Periodontal Ligament Regeneration, Dental Pulp Regeneration

A tooth is a compound organ, which is composed of calcified tissues of enamel, dentin and cementum, and a soft connective tissue of dental pulp in which blood vessels and nerves are protected. Periodontal ligaments anchor teeth into the alveolar bone in the jaw to ensure the proper function of teeth. In humans, tooth loss can not only lead to physical and mental suffering, but also affect the aesthetics, which compromise an individual’s quality of life and self-esteem. With the development of tissue engineering, regenerating a whole tooth for clinical tooth replacement is now considered to be an acceptable scientific objective. This subject has a number of challenges for investigators over complicated disciplines including biology, dental medicine and biomaterial science. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge related to tooth regeneration, especially focus on dentin regeneration, periodontal ligament regeneration, and dental pulp regeneration.

Keywords: Growth factors, Regulation mechanism, Scaffolds, Stem cells, Tooth regeneration.