Gene therapy: progress and prospects in dentistry

Gene therapy is a field of biotechnology and has proved to acquire the forefront of medical research by genetic modification of cells for therapeutic purposes. Safe methods have been advocated to do this, using several viral and non-viral vectors. Two main strategies include in vivo and ex vivo modification. Gene transfer protocols have been approved for human use in inherited diseases, cancers and acquired disorders. It has a promising era in the field of dentistry. Gene therapy has been used as a mode for regeneration, treatment of salivary gland diseases, head and neck cancers and pain management. It encompasses various future strategies to modify microorganisms and treat various diseases at the very root of initiation. This review will highlight human gene therapy as an effective addition to the arsenal of approaches to many dental therapies in the 21st century.