Autologous Growth Factors in Periodontal Regeneration

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the supporting tissues of teeth caused by a group of specific microorganisms. It results in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with periodontal pocket formation or gingival recession or both. The goal of periodontal therapy is to achieve regeneration of the tissues destroyed due to disease. Periodontal regeneration can be defined as the complete restoration of the lost tissues to their original architecture and function by recapitulating the crucial wound healing events associated with their development i.e. to induce formation of bone cementum and periodontal ligament fibers. There are many techniques available for periodontal regeneration including use of growth factors for periodontal regeneration. However most of the regenerative techniques commonly employed result in repair of tissues rather than regeneration. Growth factors have been shown to induce periodontal regeneration by recapitulating the crucial wound healing events associated with their development i.e. induce formation of bone cementum and periodontal ligament fibres.