SP-30 Message in a Microbottle: Extracellular Vesicles for Dental Pulp Repair and Regeneration

CE Hours: 1.25

Description: The management of inflamed or injured dental pulp remains a core challenge in endodontics. Conventional root canal therapy controls infection but eliminates the pulp's regenerative capacity. Regenerative endodontic procedures now aim to preserve or restore vitality, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerging as a promising cell-free, immunomodulatory, and pro-regenerative approach. This presentation will highlight advances in EVs derived from stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP) for pulp repair. We will review preclinical and translational evidence showing how EVs modulate inflammation, support angiogenesis and neurogenesis, and activate resident progenitors. Particular attention will be given to their cargo-specialized pro-resolving mediators, growth factors, and miRNAs-and its integration into smart biomaterials for controlled delivery.Endodontists will gain perspectives on how EV-based therapies could complement or even replace cell-based regeneration. Practical issues of sourcing, safety, and clinical translation will also be discussed. EVs represent a paradigm shift: from removing the pulp to enabling its healing.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe the biological functions and therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from dental stem cells in the context of pulp regeneration.
• Compare EV-based strategies with current regenerative endodontic protocols in terms of feasibility, clinical integration, and future applicability.
• Evaluate the mechanisms by which EVs modulate inflammation and promote tissue repair in the pulpal microenvironment