Elucidating Tooth Development and Pulp Biology by Single-Cell Sequencing Technology

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful technique that enables scientists to interrogate the expression level of every gene in individual cells of a complex tissue. This chapter discusses recent advances in using the single-cell transcriptomic technology to study tooth development and pulp biology. We begin by introducing the main stages of tooth and pulp development, highlighting knowledge gaps that single-cell transcriptomics can fill. We then consider the basic principles of scRNA-seq technology and how it is experimentally applied in dental research. Next, we focus on recent benchmark single-cell studies that addressed key questions in tooth and pulp development. We present findings that expand our understanding of how the dental pulp forms and functions, including cell heterogeneity in the pulp, the regulatory interactions between cell populations, and inherent cell lineages, signaling interactions, and transcriptional controls of tooth development and regeneration. These recent discoveries demonstrate the potential of scRNA-seq to revolutionize dentistry by stimulating new ideas and applications that will shape the future of the field.