Tooth development: 2. Regenerating Teeth in the Laboratory

From Volume 34, Issue 1, January 2007 | Pages 20-29

Authors

Obinna Onyekwelu

BSc(Hons), AKC

Medical Student, Floor 22 Guy's Hospital, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, London SEI 9RT, UK

Articles by Obinna Onyekwelu

Maisa Seppala

DDS

Postgraduate Student, Floor 22 Guy's Hospital, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, London SEI 9RT, UK

Articles by Maisa Seppala

Maria Zoupa

BSc, MSc

Postgraduate Student, Floor 22 Guy's Hospital, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, London SEI 9RT, UK

Articles by Maria Zoupa

Martyn T Cobourne

FDS RCS, FDS(Orth) RCS, PhD

Senior Lecturer/Hon Consultant in Orthodontics, Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Development, Floor 22 Guy's Hospital, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, London SEI 9RT, UK

Articles by Martyn T Cobourne

Abstract

Tooth loss can occur for a number of reasons and a variety of prosthetic tooth replacement solutions are available to the dental practitioner. This article discusses current approaches in the use of tissue engineering to replace teeth or repair dental tissues. These strategies will depend upon the manipulation of stem cells in the laboratory and, whilst much progress has recently been made, it is likely that successful human tooth regeneration is still some years ahead.

Article