Editorial: A New Era in Dentistry: Stem Cell-Based Approaches for Tooth and Periodontal Tissue Regeneration

The continuously increasing progress in stem cell biology has expanded our horizons into the principles of health and disease. This new acquired knowledge and the recent advances in the field of biotechnology have formed the substrate for translation into novel therapeutic solutions (Mitsiadis et al., 2015). Indeed, traditional dental therapies have successfully incorporated a good number of new materials that are more compatible and friendly to dental and periodontal tissues. Although these treatments are suitable and satisfactory for long-lasting dental restorations, the idea of stem cell-based tissue regeneration is tempting and represents the decisive objective of introducing new therapeutic approaches in the clinics. Teeth develop through continuous and reciprocal interactions between cranial neural crest-derived mesenchymal stem cells and oral-derived epithelial stem cells during early embryogenesis These highly mineralized organs are composed by collagenous (such as the mesenchyme-derived dentin and cementum structures) and non-collagenous (such as the epithelium-derived enamel structure) extracellular matrices. The alveolar bone is another collagenous hard tissue, which through its close interaction with the periodontal ligament supports tooth stability and function. Tooth vitality is ensured by blood vessels and nerve fibers within the dental pulp and periodontium (Carmeliet and Jain, 2011; Pagella et al., 2015). Regenerative approaches include the formation of new enamel, dentin, pulp, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone after tooth damage due to genetic pathology, traumatic injuries, caries, and periodontal lesions (Mitsiadis and Harada, 2015). Therefore, the recent progress made in the fields of stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology offers promising opportunities to repair damaged or missing dental tissues (Mitsiadis et al., 2012). Several considerable efforts have been made recently in the dental field and new concepts concerning dental treatment strategies have arisen with the hope to translate basic research findings into the clinics. Repairing teeth by autologous cell grafting is highly desired, but some ethical, economic, and legislative issues should be first resolved. In this research topic, prominent researchers within the dental field provided important information, gave responses, and generated stimulating hypotheses concerning the development and regeneration of dental and periodontal tissues. A balanced mosaic of original and review Mitsiadis and Orsini Tooth and Periodontal Tissues Regeneration articles point out different facets of the interplay between stem cell biology and dental tissue formation, homeostasis, and regeneration. The different sources of stem cells, their differentiation potential, and the current state of stem cell-based strategies for dental or craniofacial tissue regeneration are discussed in several …