Leveraging advancements in tissue engineering for bioprinting dental tissues

Abstract

3D bioprinting allows biocompatible materials and cells to be deposited in precise locations in three-dimensional space, enabling researchers to surpass the limitations of traditional 2D cell culture and to create innovative therapies. 3D bioprinting is one of the newest tools developed in the field of tissue engineering, which has traditionally utilized a paradigm revolving around scaffolds, cells, and signals. In this review, we discuss how new developments in each of these three research areas relates to bioprinting dental tissues – specifically teeth, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Important considerations include how scaffold materials and geometry affect regeneration of dental tissues, the importance of using dental cells in these applications, and the role of signaling molecules for creating a clinically relevant bioengineered dental implant. We conclude with potential new directions for research that would allow the burgeoning field of regenerative dentistry to achieve its lofty goals.