The Dickkopf family (DKK) is a highly conserved ancient system during evolution, which has effects of regulation on inhibiting the signal transduction of the Wnt pathway. As a key member of the DKK family, DKK1 has a wide range of biological functions. It controls the growth and the progress of disease through regulating cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. There were wide range of studies on the embryonic development and tumorigenesis. With an increasing awareness of the importance of oral health and an increase in the incidence of some oral diseases, the molecular mechanisms of diseases have been investigated gradually. The fact that DKK1 regulates Wnt pathway has gradually gained attention in oral medicine, and it is thought to be a potential cancer treatment target. In recent years, scholars have discovered that DKK1 attracts attention by regulating cell growth, migration, and differentiation to affect the development of oral organs and the occurrence of oral diseases. In this paper, we reviewed the recent studies on the effects of DKK1 on tooth development and common oral diseases such as oral tumor and oral submucous fibrosis, and also analyzed the possible molecular mechanism. This review would provide a theoretical basis for the further investigation of the regulatory mechanism of tooth development and DKK1-targeting therapeutic strategies for oral diseases.

Tooth, developmental; Mouth diseases; Dickkopf family