Stem cell applications in periodontal regeneration

Abstract

Introduction: What Is Periodontal Regeneration? Periodontal regeneration is the full restoration of a damaged periodontal attachment apparatus (cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone) to its original architecture and function.1 It is a biological term defined by its histologic characteristics of restitutio ad integrum (restoration to original condition) of the periodontal architecture, including new cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone surrounding a tooth that has been deprived of its attachment apparatus usually because of the effects of periodontitis. Clinically, periodontal regeneration is characterized by a gain in clinical attachment, reduction in pocket depth, and radiographic evidence of an increase in alveolar bone levels. However, these observations cannot distinguish between regeneration and reparative healing, especially when various grafting and “regenerative” techniques have been used. Accordingly, these clinical outcomes should be viewed more as a result of periodontal reconstruction than periodontal regeneration per se. Therefore, periodontal reconstruction is viewed as a clinical term used to coin clinical and radiographic improvements, that is, gains in clinical attachment, reduced probing pocket depth, and bone fill, representing reparative and/or partial regenerative healing.