Regenerative Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (Dpscs) in Dental and Periodontal Tissue Engineering: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies Publisher Pubmed



Asghari S ; Rezaee S ; Khaneshi N ; Rostami M ; Batebi M ; Heidari F ; Moradi M
Source: BMC Oral Health Published:2026

Abstract

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are multipotent mesenchymal stem cells with demonstrated potential for regenerating dental and periodontal tissues. This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate the regenerative potential, biological properties, and translational prospects of DPSCs in dental and periodontal tissue engineering, based on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical interventional studies published between 2010 and 2025. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus using combinations of keywords related to DPSCs, dental/periodontal regeneration, and tissue engineering. Quality assessment was performed using the Downs and Black checklist, and the risk of bias was also evaluated with RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. A total of 12 interventional studies (9 experimental and 3 clinical trials) were included. DPSCs consistently indicated high proliferation, multilineage differentiation, immunomodulatory capacity, and resistance to inflammatory and senescence-inducing conditions compared to other mesenchymal stem cell sources. Preclinical studies demonstrated the enhanced regeneration of dental pulp, dentin, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone using DPSCs, with or without scaffolds and bioactive cues. Clinical trials reported the safety of autologous DPSCs and improvements in pulp vitality, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bone defect filling; however, sample sizes were limited, and evidence for superiority over standard therapies remains preliminary. DPSCs possess significant regenerative potential for dental and periodontal tissue engineering, supported by robust preclinical evidence and early clinical studies. Nevertheless, clinical translation is constrained by limited trial data, methodological heterogeneity, and regulatory challenges. Future research should focus on standardized protocols, long-term clinical outcomes, and integration with advanced tissue engineering strategies such as biomimetic scaffolds, organoids, and gene-editing approaches to fully realize the therapeutic potential of DPSCs. © The Author(s) 2026.