Hydrogel-based strategies for dentin-pulp complex regeneration: a comprehensive review

The clinical management of dental caries encompasses a spectrum of therapeutic approaches, ranging from conservative restorative procedures to complex endodontic interventions. In cases involving pulp exposure or reversible pulpal injury, vital pulp therapy procedures are considered essential strategies for preserving pulp vitality and maintaining tooth function. This explains the focus of some recent works on developing tissue engineering (TE) approaches, particularly those involving dental stem or progenitor cells, to produce functional dental tissues. Hydrogel-based scaffolds, highly biocompatible three-dimensional (3D) bio/polymeric networks, are particularly attractive because of their ability to mimic the native extracellular matrix and thus serve as suitable scaffolds for tissue engineering, especially for dental pulp regeneration. Their versatility makes them a good candidate for a range of tissue engineering models, and hydrogel-based scaffolds are proving particularly valuable in regenerative medicine. This work reviews both natural and synthetic polymers, focusing on their structures and emerging uses in the regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex.