The Hidden Treasure in Apical Papilla: the Potential Role in Pulp/dentin Regeneration and Bioroot Engineering

Overview

Journal J Endod

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2008 May 24

PMID 18498881

Citations 230

Authors

George T-J Huang

Wataru Sonoyama

Yi Liu

He Liu

Songlin Wang

Songtao Shi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Some clinical case reports have shown that immature permanent teeth with periradicular periodontitis or abscess can undergo apexogenesis after conservative endodontic treatment. A call for a paradigm shift and new protocol for the clinical management of these cases has been brought to attention. Concomitantly, a new population of mesenchymal stem cells residing in the apical papilla of permanent immature teeth recently has been discovered and was termed stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP). These stem cells appear to be the source of odontoblasts that are responsible for the formation of root dentin. Conservation of these stem cells when treating immature teeth may allow continuous formation of the root to completion. This article reviews current findings on the isolation and characterization of these stem cells. The potential role of these stem cells in the following respects will be discussed: (1) their contribution in continued root maturation in endodontically treated immature teeth with periradicular periodontitis or abscess and (2) their potential utilization for pulp/dentin regeneration and bioroot engineering.

Citing Articles

Apexification of an Endodontically Failed Permanent Tooth with an Open Apex: A Case Report with Histologic Findings.

Bukhary S Medicina (Kaunas). 2025; 61(2).

PMID: 40005393 PMC: 11857209. DOI: 10.3390/medicina61020276.

Impact of endodontic irrigant solutions on the viability and metabolism of stem cells from apical papilla: proposal of a novel in vitro model.

Coelho L, Bordini E, Cassiano F, de Toledo Stuani V, Silva R, Dos Passos D Clin Oral Investig. 2025; 29(2):136.

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Cell Homing Strategies in Regenerative Endodontic Therapy.

Kim D, Kim S Cells. 2025; 14(3).

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Bone morphogenetic protein-4 induced matrix turnover and osteogenic differentiation-related molecules of stem cells from apical papilla and its associated ALK/Smad signaling.

Chang M, Chao Y, Chen Y, Chang H, Zhong B, Pan Y J Dent Sci. 2025; 20(1):646-659.

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Evaluatıon of stress dıstrıbutıon by applıed dıfferent forces on ımmature maxıllary central teeth wıth dıfferent treatment optıons: a laboratory fınıte element stress analysıs.

Cetinkaya A, Ayranci L BMC Oral Health. 2025; 25(1):3.

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