Scaffolds for regeneration of the pulp-dentine complex

Abstract

Millions of people suffer from dental caries, which affects the quality of life of patients of all ages. Current therapy is to remove the diseased tissues and to replace them with inert, synthetic materials that, however, are incapable of replacing the biological function of the lost tissue. Similar to other connective tissue, pulp tissue has the potential to heal; however, to achieve successful pulp–dentine regeneration, a scaffold that mimics the natural extracellular microenvironment is vital. A myriad of polymers have been investigated for this purpose. This chapter will provide an insight into different biomaterials used for fabrication of scaffolds for pulp–dentine regeneration.