Dental caries, periodontitis, tooth loss, and bone resorption are considered prevalent health problems that have direct affect on the quality of life. While, advances in stem cell biology and biotechnology have sparked hope for devastating maladies, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc., it also provides a strategy of regenerative therapy for dental tissues. From the prospective of tissue engineering, it is of utmost importance to understand and emulate the complex cell interactions that make up a tissue or organ. Unlike other tissues in the body, dental tissues are unique in their development, function, and even in their maintenance throughout life. The harmonized stimulations of biology and mechanical regulators to promote cellular activities have matured our understanding of the value of regenerative therapy of dental tissue versus the reparative treatment. In this book, we review the current knowledge available to regenerate alveolar bone, periodontal structure, and pulp/dentin complex. The book provides researchers with detailed information about development and functional characteristics of the dental unit with detailed protocols covering a comprehensive range of various approaches to engineer dental tissues: to use isolated cells or cell substitutes as cellular replacement, to use acellular biomaterials capable of inducing tissue regeneration, and/or to use a combination of cells, biomaterial and growth factors. We are well aware, with the concept changes in the field toward in-vitro biomimetics of in-vivo tissue development. The theoretical frame work integrating these concepts of developmental biology and developmental engineering is yet to be emphasized and implemented. Until this happens, we consider this book of regenerative dentistry as a call for scientists to achieve, researchers to innovate, practitioners to apply, and students to learn the art and science of regenerative therapy in dentistry. Table of Contents: Introduction toRegenerative Dentistry / Tissue Engineering Alveolar Bone / Tissue Engineering of the Periodontal Tissues / Dynamics for Pulp-Dentin Tissue Engineering in Operative Dentistry
Mona K. Marei (BDS, MScD, PhD), is a professor of prosthodontics, head of Tissue Engineering Laboratories, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Egypt. She was graduated as a dentist from the School of Dentistry, Alexandria University in 1973, and received her postgraduate degree in major perio-prosthesis from Boston University in 1981. She is the founder of tissue engineering science and technology in Egypt since 1999. She has many international oral presentations and publications in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative dentistry. She is currently a board member of a number of national, African and international councils in addition to being an editorial board member in Artificial Organs, Tissue Engineering - journal part A, B and C and an associate editor in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.
