INTRODUCTIONrnThe integrity of dentition is of significant importance to oral health. Dentition defects can have adverse influences on oral functions, such as the vocalization, masticatory function and aesthetics, thus diminishing the patients' quality of life.1 There is a high prevalence of periodontal problems, but tooth loss is not a good option. As a chronic infectious disease, periodontal disease is characterized by the inflammation of supporting tissues, such as gingiva, the periodontal membrane, the cementum and alveolar bone, resulting in loose or lost teeth.2 Dental prosthetic treatment plays a vital role in achieving mechanical and partial functional restoration. However, the ultimate goal of treatment is regenerat-ing the damaged periodontal tissue to restore the original composition and function.3 With this goal in mind, periodontal tissue regeneration engineering provides a potential solution. The oral cavity contains rich sources of mesenchymal stem cells, and previous studies have shown that these stem cells have a superior ability to regenerate tissue in vitro, especially in terms of osteogenesis.4 Dental follicle cells (DFCs), which show excellent osteogenesis potential, can hopefully be a substitute for traditional marrow stem cells.