Overview of recent advances in pulp/dentine complex tissue engineering

Pulp necrosis in immature teeth disrupts root development and makes the teeth susceptible to fracture. Regenerative endodontics is a relatively new modality of treatment where the necrotic pulp is replaced with newly formed healthy tissue which has normal functionality. Many clinical reports have demonstrated the potential of this strategy to induce root maturation and apical closure. However, clinical outcomes are patient-dependent and unpredictable. Developing predictable protocols can be achieved through the interplay of three basic elements of tissue engineering, namely, scaffolds, stem cells, and signaling molecules. Furthermore, the clinical success of this treatment is influenced by both the method of preparing the inner space of the root and the type of biomaterial utilized in the coronal part. In this review, we discuss recent advances in tissue engineering-based strategies for regeneration of the pulp/dentine complex along with their advantages and limitations.