Calcium Phosphate Cements May Support Bone Regeneration

Calcium Phosphate Cements May Support Bone Regeneration

Bone health is vital to oral health. In the case of patients with osteoporosis or edentulism, preventing bone loss is even more critical—especially when implants or implant-supported dentures are required. Researchers continue to search for ways to promote bone regeneration. A new study, “Stem Cells and Calcium Phosphate Cement Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration,” published online in May by the Journal of Dental Research, examines the use of calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) for regenerating bone in the oral cavity.

CPCs have been shown to deliver excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity for dental, craniofacial, and orthopedic applications. In this paper, the authors reviewed recent developments in stem-cell delivery via CPCs for bone regeneration, including their use with stem cells and bone marrow. It was discovered that stem cells underwent good attachment/proliferation in scaffolds of CPC, while treatment consisting of stem-cell CPCs generated greater levels of new bone growth and blood vessels than other treatments.

Review of the data led the authors to conclude that CPC scaffolds may be suitable for delivering stem cells to the oral cavity. Furthermore, stem-cell CPC constructs show great promise for the regeneration of bone in dental, craniofacial, and orthopedic applications—providing a viable treatment option that does not require extensive harvesting time, as do other methods. Further study is needed, however, to support the use of CPCs in these types of applications.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

July 2014