Tooth Regeneration as a Next Generation of Organ Replacement Regenerative Therapies

Abstract

Current approaches to restore the partial loss of organ function, stem cell transplantation therapy and tissue engineering technologies have been developed as a cure for various diseases, injury and aging. The ultimate goal of regenerative therapy is to develop fully functioning bioengineered organs which work in cooperation with surrounding tissues and can replace to dysfunctional organs. In current research on whole-tooth regenerative therapy, a basic strategy is being pursued in which a bioengineered tooth germ is induced to develop into a fully functional tooth. Previously, we developed a three-dimensional organ-germ method for the reconstitution a bioengineered organ germ. Recently, we successfully demonstrated that our bioengineered tooth germ could develop a fully functioning tooth, which has hardness for masticatory potential, the functional responsibility against a mechanical stress, and perceptive potentials of neural fibers. These results represented that the bioengineered tooth germ could develop a fully functioning regenerated tooth and an organ replacement regenerative therapy using a bioengineered organ germ might be feasible.