Revascularization & Regenerative Endodontics: A review of current status

Revascularization is a surgical procedure for the provision of a new, additional, or augmented blood supply to a body part or organ. Regenerative endodontics is the creation and delivery of tissues to replace diseased, missing, and traumatized pulp. This review provides an overview of revascularization and regenerative endodontics and its goals, the origin of stem cells, their properties, characteristics, current research, and their potential applications. The potential approaches include root-canal revascularization, postnatal (adult) stem cell therapy, pulp implant, scaffold implant, three-dimensional cell printing, injectable scaffolds, and gene therapy. These regenerative endodontic techniques will possibly involve some combination of disinfection or debridement of infected root canal systems with apical enlargement to permit revascularization and use of adult stem cells, scaffolds, and growth factors. Tissue engineering therapy offers the possibility of restoring natural function instead of surgical placement of an artificial prosthesis.