Abstract

Stem cell research and scaffolding are now the buzz words in basic science pulp researches. The endodontic community needs to enhance its clinical understanding of the vital pulp and dentin, and embrace new treatment modalities. Several regenerative techniques have been described, while therapies involving stem cells, growth factors and scaffolds have been proposed. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages, although some techniques are still in a hypothetical stage or in an early stage of development. It has been accepted that the regenerative therapies could revolutionize the future endodontics with the synergitic confluence of advances in signaling pathways underlying morphogenesis and lineage stem/ progenitor cells by morphogens such as bone morphogenic proteins and synthetic scaffolds.

Key words: Stem cells, scaffolds, gene therapy, endodontics.