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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Ikeda
Etsuko
E
Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology Tokyo University of Science, Department of Biological Science and Technology, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
Tsuji
Takashi
T
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000166:cytology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008963:Molar / Q000166:cytology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology
D015921:Dental Implants