Growing bioengineered teeth from single cells: potential for dental regenerative medicine

Background: The ultimate goal of regenerative therapy is to develop fully functioning bioengineered organs that can replace organs lost or damaged due to disease, injury or aging. Dental regenerative medicine has made the most progress and is the most useful model for the consideration of strategies in future organ replacement therapies. Objective: This review describes strategies that have been pursued to date and experiments currently being conducted to bioengineer teeth in anticipation of the production of fully functional organs. Methods: To realize the practical application of 'bioengineered tooth' transplantation therapy, four major hurdles must be overcome. The present status of the hurdles to this therapy are described and discussed in this review. Results/conclusion: The bioengineering techniques developed for tooth regeneration will in the future make substantial contributions to the ability to grow primordial organs in vitro and also to grow fully functioning organs, such as the liver, kidney and heart.