Advances in Regenerative Dentistry: From Biological Mechanisms to Clinical Translation

Advances in cell biology, biomaterials, and tissue engineering have expanded the possibilities of regenerative dentistry, promoting a shift from tissue replacement toward biologically driven strategies aimed at restoring tissue structure and function. This review examines advances reported between 2020 and 2025, considering their biological basis, current evidence, and level of clinical translation. Major developments include regenerative endodontics, periodontal regeneration, guided tissue and bone regeneration, platelet concentrates, bioactive biomaterials, dental stem cells and cell-free therapies, biomimetic enamel regeneration, and organoid and whole-tooth bioengineering. Although some approaches are already supported by human evidence and clinical application, others remain predominantly experimental. Importantly, favorable healing or tissue formation does not necessarily represent complete functional regeneration of the native tissue. Greater standardization, long-term clinical evidence, and reproducible therapeutic protocols are therefore needed to bridge the gap between experimental advances and predictable clinical outcomes.