Stem cells in dental practice: perspectives in conservative pulp therapies.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the capacity to self-renew. They have been discovered in many adult tissues, including teeth. The Dental Pulp Stem Cells are involved in dentinal repair by activation of growth factors, released after caries process and have the ability to regenerate the dentin-pulp-like complex. The molecular/cellular research raises the possibilities to grow new tissues and biological structures for clinical application, providing cells for therapies including cell transplantation and tissue engineering.