Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rama Dental College, Kanpur.
*Correspondence: Dr Parvathi Devi, Professor and Head, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Rama Dental College, Kanpur.
For over 30 years, stem cells have been used in the replenishment of blood and immune systems damaged by the cancer cells or during treatment of cancer by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Apart from their use in the immunoreconstitution, stem cells have been reported to contribute in tissue regeneration. In the recent years stem cells have played a pivotal role in homeostasis of oral epithelium. The recent concept of cancer stem cells has directed scientific communities towards a different wide new area of research field and possible potential future treatment modalities for oral cancer. Aim of this review paper is to primarily focus on the recent developments in the use of stem cells in the regenerative dentistry, role of dental stem cells in medical field, treatment of oral mucosal lesions like oral submucous fibrosis, lichen planus etc and to discuss current cancer stem cells concepts and the role of stem cells in the pathogenesis of oral diseases.
Stem cell, Adult stem cell, Tissue engineering, oral cancer, Autologus stem cell
