We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Dental Pulp Stem Cells?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,019
Share

Dental pulp stem cells are multipotent stem cells found within the soft dental pulp inside the teeth. They are capable of differentiating into several different adult cell types, and in addition to growing into cells associated with the teeth, they can be cultured to grow other kinds of soft tissue and specialized cells. This means they have tremendous applications in treatment as a source of human stem cells that could be used to grow various kinds of tissue for repair of damage and management of disease. Studies involving dental pulp stem cells conducted in the early 21st century showed a wide range of applications.

In the course of normal dental development, these cells need to be able to develop into dentin, cementum, enamel, and pulp, all of which are associated with the teeth. This allows for some repair of these tissues in the wake of injury and infection to maintain oral health and the function of the teeth. Examination of dental pulp stem cells revealed they appear to have the ability to develop into cell types beyond those found in the teeth..

Early in human development, these cells need to be able to produce structures like blood vessels and nerves as the teeth and related connections form. They appear to retain this ability, as research in the lab indicates. Dental pulp stem cells can be used to grow functioning neurons, bone cells, fat, muscle tissue, and other forms of connective tissue. Patients with spinal cord injuries, for example, can potentially be treated with dental pulp stem cells to restore connections and function. Preliminary studies on rats showed this was theoretically possible, laying the groundwork for human studies.

As of 2012, these cells were identified as multipotent, which means they can grow into several cell types but not every single type of cell in the body. Very few cells are totipotent, or having the ability to grow into any kind of tissue; these are usually found very early in embroyonic development when cells are replicating and dividing before they start to differentiate and form the fetus. For research, totipotent cells are extremely valuable because they can be cultured into any tissue type.

Human stem cell research is of interest in a number of medical fields, whether doctors want to be able to offer treatment like grown organs for transplant or repairs for neurological damage. Finding reliable sources of stem cells can be challenging due to legal and ethical restrictions. Harvesting dental pulp stem cells is a potential method that wouldn’t violate restrictions on sources and would provide ample material for research and development.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-dental-pulp-stem-cells.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.