Evidences for Dental Pulp-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cells

Despite extensive research into dentin formation since its inception, fundamental questions about the origin of odontoblast-like cells persist. The discovery of stem cells within the dental pulp was a landmark achievement, yet the precise nature of odontoblast-like cells remains ambiguous. Whether these cells are identical to stem cells is still a subject of debate. Ultimately, definitive answers to these foundational questions are elusive. The dental pulp contains stem cells with the potential to transform into dentin-producing cells when the dental pulp is injured. Although research has progressed, consistently inducing these stem cells to develop into a pulp-like tissue after injury remains a challenge. This chapter emphasizes on the evidences for dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stromal stem cells and discusses the cumulative information about the origin of those progenitor cells. Additionally, it offers a hypothetical perspective on Höhl cells as potential odontoblast progenitors.