Genetic Engineering in Pediatric Dentistry

Advances in biotechnology have brought gene therapy to the forefront of medical research. The concept of transferring genes to tissues for clinical applications has been discussed nearly half a century, but the ability to manipulate genetic material via recombinant DNA technology has brought this goal to reality. Applications of gene therapy to dental and oral problems illustrate the potential impact of this technology on dentistry. In the past years, remarkable progress has been made in the field of gene therapy, including various areas relavant to pediatric dental practice like prevention of dental caries, stem cells in tooth tissue regeneration, rapid orthodontic movement.