Gene Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in Dentistry.
Gene therapy holds a promising future for bridging the gap between the disciplines of medicine and clinical dentistry. The dynamic treatment approaches of gene therapy have been advancing by leaps and bounds. They are transforming the conventional approaches into more precise and preventive ones that may limit the need of using drugs and surgery. The oral cavity is one of the most accessible areas for the clinical applications of gene therapy for various oral tissues. The idea of genetic engineering has become more exciting due to its advantages over other treatment modalities. For instance, the body is neither subjected to an invasive surgery nor deep wounds, nor is it susceptible to systemic effects of drugs. The aim of this article is to review the gene therapy applications in the field of dentistry. In addition, therapeutic benefits in terms of treatment of diseases, minimal invasion and maximum outcomes have been discussed.
Department of Oral Biology, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi 75260, Pakistan. nidasiddique@hotmail.com.
Nida
N
Siddique
Department of Oral Biology, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi 75260, Pakistan. raza.hira@gmail.com.
Hira
H
Raza
Department of Oral Biology, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi 75260, Pakistan. dr.sehrishahmed1@gmail.com.
Sehrish
S
Ahmed
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Hofuf 31982, Saudia Arabia. drzohaibkhurshid@gmail.com.
Zohaib
Z
Khurshid
Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madina Munawwarrah 41311, Saudi Arabia. drsohail_78@hotmail.com.
Muhammad Sohail
MS
Zafar
DNA vaccination; bone repair; cancer; gene therapy; orthodontic tooth movement; pain; tooth repair