A comparative study of clonogenic potential of primary cells from dental pulp and gingiva in an individual.

BACKGROUND: Regenerative medicine is an emerging field that combines biotechnology with aspects of medicine, cell and molecular biology, materials science and bioengineering to regenerate, repair or replace tissues. Since 1990, growth factors and platelet concentrates have been considered novel and have been widely used in oral and maxillofacial surgery. In the following years, biomaterials, as well as various types of scaffolds and autologous tissues, were increasingly used. Stem cells are defined as special cells that have the capacity to both self-renew and give rise to a cell population that can be differentiated. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the yield of primary cells from dental pulp and gingival tissue. This study was designed to investigate the growth potential of dental pulp tissue and gingival tissue by assessing the colony-forming units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary cells were isolated from dental pulp and gingival tissues collected from patients undergoing third molar extraction. Colony-forming unit (CFU) assay and scratch wound assay were performed to evaluate clonogenicity and proliferative potential. RESULTS: Gingival stem cells demonstrated faster proliferation and higher colony-forming efficiency compared to dental pulp stem cells. Gingival stem cells also showed quicker wound closure in the scratch wound assay. CONCLUSION: Gingival tissue may serve as a more accessible and efficient source of stem cells for regenerative applications due to its rapid growth and enhanced clonogenic potential.