6.10 Biomaterials Selection for Dental Pulp Regeneration

Biomaterials are likely critical, if not indispensible, for dental pulp regeneration. This chapter presents up-to-date and critical information of biomaterials selection for dental pulp regeneration and is written for students, fellows, scientists, clinicians and government officials seeking better understanding of the scientific basis and therapeutic potential of dental pulp regeneration. Key challenges of dental pulp regeneration are discussed as well as biomaterial selection and strategies. Progress has been made to regenerate dental pulp-like tissues with both cell delivery and cell homing approaches. In tissue engineering and regeneration, the scale of the tissues to be regenerated is among some of the most critical factors for success. Due to its small scale, dental pulp regeneration represents one of the lower hanging fruits in the regeneration of all tissues and organs.