Theme: Stem Cell Biology in Craniofacial Tissues
Sponsored by: Craniofacial Biology, Mineralized Tissue, Pulp Biology and Regeneration
Description: Post-natal stem cells constitute a small sub-population of cells endowed with self-renewal and multipotency that are capable of regenerating the tissue of origin. In recent years, the concept of using stem cells as a strategy to regenerate lost dental tissues has gained momentum and received significant attention from investigators throughout the world. However, the field is quickly realizing that one of the main challenges posed by multipotent stem cells is that one will have to guide their differentiation towards a specific phenotype to achieve ideal tissue regeneration. For example, if one uses mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate the dentin-pulp complex, ideally one should drive their differentiation towards odontoblasts (to generate dentin) not osteoblasts (that would generate a bone-like tissue inside the canal). The understanding of the mechanisms underlining the differentiation of orofacial stem cells will be critical to guide their differentiation potential. This symposium will be centered around the presentation and discussion of the state-of-the-science in the field of orofacial stem cell biology, with a focus on the processes that guide the differentiation of these cells to achieve optimal dental tissue regeneration.
Learning Objectives:
Learn the critical gaps in the knowledge of the mechanisms that guide the differentiation of orofacial stem cells
Understand the state-of-the-science of the biology of orofacial stem cells in 2012
Recognize the challenges & opportunities facing the clinical translation of stem-cell based approaches for dental tissue regeneration