CRISPR Genome Editing in Personalized Therapy for Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases: A Scoping Review.

Background

CRISPR/Cas genome editing is emerging as a powerful tool in oral and maxillofacial medicine, with potential applications in personalized therapies for conditions that currently lack durable treatments.

Objectives

This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on CRISPR-based applications in oral and maxillofacial fields, rather than to assess treatment effectiveness.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov (2012-2024) identified studies and registered trials involving CRISPR with oral health relevance. Eligible articles included peer-reviewed experimental reports and clinical trials.

Results

From 1437 records, 121 studies met inclusion criteria: 106 preclinical reports and 15 clinical or translational studies. Investigated domains included oral cancer therapy, hereditary craniofacial syndromes, regenerative strategies, infectious disease models, and pathogen detection. Early clinical efforts focus mainly on CRISPR-edited T-cell immunotherapies in oncology. Major barriers include off-target effects, delivery challenges, regulatory complexity, and ethical concerns.

Conclusions

CRISPR-based bioengineering shows strong promise for precision care in oral and maxillofacial medicine. However, current evidence remains largely preclinical and heterogeneous. No clinical recommendations can yet be made, and translation will depend on rigorous late-phase trials, ethical oversight, and health-economic evaluation.