Dental pulp stem cells in endodontics: Advances, applications, and challenges

Stem cells are clonogenic cells capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. Since the first isolation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in the early 2000s, stem cell research has continued to be an active topic in Endodontology. Over the last two decades, the literature has reported in a wide range of laboratory investigations related to various tissue engineering applications of DPSCs with different scaffolds and growth factors to promote the healing of the dentine-pulp complex. This is in addition to the cytotoxicity and dentinogenic differentiation potential of DPSCs on a wide range of endodontic biomaterials. Indeed, the increased body of knowledge has shaped our understanding and perception of the biological nature and potential applications of DPSCs in tissue engineering and pulp regeneration technologies. This chapter discusses current updates, potential applications, and challenges of DPSCs research in Endodontics. In addition, directions for future research and clinical translation are highlighted.