Alveolar Bone Tissue Engineering Using Deciduous Dental Pulp Stem Cells in a Patient with Cleft Lip and Palate

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Tissue bioengineering strategies are increasingly relevant in dentistry for intraoral tissue regeneration.
• Stem cells combined with biomaterials show potential for treating conditions like cleft lip and palate (CLP).
• Current treatments for alveolar bone reconstruction in CLP patients often involve autologous bone grafts, which can cause donor site pain and morbidity.

Observation:

• This case report details the treatment of a patient diagnosed with cleft lip and palate (CLP).
• The patient underwent alveolar bone reconstruction utilizing stem cells derived from deciduous dental pulp.
• These stem cells were combined with a hydroxyapatite and collagen scaffold for the procedure.

Findings:

• The applied technique successfully regenerated the intraoral tissues.
• Complete filling of the alveolar cleft was observed in the patient.
• The regenerative treatment was evaluated at a 12-month follow-up period.

Implications:

• This approach may eliminate the need for autologous bone grafts in alveolar cleft reconstruction.
• Utilizing stem cells with scaffolds can potentially reduce patient pain and donor site morbidity.
• This case highlights a viable tissue bioengineering solution for CLP patients, advancing regenerative dentistry.