Stem cell therapy for bone regeneration: present and future strategies.

Alveolar bone atrophy may occur due to trauma, malignancy and periodontal disease. Restoring the lost bone is crucial for the rehabilitation of the patient's functioning, phonetics and aesthetics. Currently the methods available for vertical bone augmentation prior to dental implant placement are rather limited. This paper describes present and future concepts of utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as well as endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) for enhancing bone growth in severe atrophic cases. Stem/progenitor cell-based regenerative therapy may prove to be the best option to meet individual patient needs and open new horizons in periodontal, maxillofacial and implant surgery.