The impact of tissue engineering on dentistry

Background. Tissue engineering is a novel and highly exciting field of rese arch that aims to repair damaged tissues as well as create replacement (bio artificial) organs. Overview. The authors provide a general review of the principles underlying key tissue engineering strategies, as well as the typical components used. Several examples of preclinical and clinical progress are presented. These include passive approaches, such as dental implants, and inductive approac hes that activate cells with specific molecular signals. Practice Implications. Tissue engineering will have a considerable effect o n dental practice during the next 25 years. The greatest effects will likel y be related to the repair and replacement of mineralized tissues, the prom otion of oral wound healing and the use of gene transfer adjunctively.