Periodontal mesenchymal stem cells for periodontal regeneration

影响牙龈的牙齿疾病（牙周病）在我们的社会中非常普遍。牙周病的影响可能特别严重，因为失去对牙齿的支持会导致牙齿松动和咀嚼功能严重受损。如果不及时治疗，伴随的疼痛和功能丧失可能需要拔除牙齿。我们最近发现了居住在牙周韧带的细胞，可能是成体干细胞。该项目将进一步表征这些细胞，并探索它们是否可以用于修复因牙周病而受损的牙周组织。

Dental diseases affecting the gums (periodontal disease) are extremely prevalent in our society. The effects of periodontal disease can be particularly severe as loss of support for the teeth leads to loose teeth and severely compromised masticatory function. If left untreated, the associated pain and loss of function may necessitate extraction of the teeth. We have recently identified cells residing in the periodontal ligament which may be adult stem cells. This project will further characterize these cells and explore whether they can be used to restore periodontal tissues damaged by periodontal disease.