The Decision for Regenerative Endodontic Therapy

Abstract

Regenerative endodontics is described as biologically based procedures designed to replace damaged structures, including dentin and root structures, as well as cells of the pulp-dentin complex, and is considered as an optimal approach for treating the immature permanent tooth with a necrotic pulp. Since the establishment of the foundations of regenerative endodontic therapy in 1960’s a plethora of relevant clinical cases and studies have been published. However, until now the case selection as well as the clinical protocol applied during regenerative endodontic therapy have not been totally determined and supported by clinical studies with high level of evidence. This review summarizes the current literature regarding the prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of regenerative endodontic therapy and the various applied clinical protocols in terms of administration of mechanical instrumentation, irrigation, intracanal medicaments, intracanal bleeding and intracanal coronal barrier. The aim of this review is to clarify and determine all the factors that willcontribute to the decision making for the application of regenerative endodontic therapy.