Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that have the capacity of rising multiple cell types. A rich source of mesenchymal stem cells is represented by the dental tissues: the periodontal ligament, the dental pulp, the apical papilla, the dental follicle and the deciduous teeth. The aim of this review is to characterize the main dental- derived mesenchymal stem cell population, and to show their important role in tissue regeneration based on their properties : the multi-potency, the high proliferation rate, the differentiation in multiple cell lineages, the high cell viability and the positive expression for mesenchymal cell markers. Tissue regeneration or de novo' formation of craniofacial structures is the future of regenerative medicine, offering a solution for congenital malformations, traumas and other diseases.
Keywords: characterization; dental stem cells; mesenchymal stem cells; tissue engineering; tissue regeneration.