Application of Stem Cells in the Oral and Maxillofacial Region

Conditions such as trauma-induced bone or cartilage defects and tumor or congenital defects are common in the oral and maxillofacial region. To repair irreversible skeletal damage or defects, bone grafts are the current gold standard. However, problems such as a shortage of bone graft material and donor-site morbidity affect the availability of bone grafts. It is also still difficult to restore salivary glands that have been severely damaged by radiation therapy and to counteract the neurodegeneration induced by trauma or surgery. In addition, due to the limited self-healing ability of the teeth, dental caries is treated by fillings (e.g., composite resin) or crowns, and missing teeth are replaced through dental bridges, removable dentures, or dental implants