Periodontal connective tissue

Connective tissues of the periodontium are composed of cells and their related extracellular matrix components. For these tissues to respond appropriately during development and regeneration as well as in health, a precise regulation of cell-cell interactions and cell-substrata interactions must occur. Thus, in order to achieve more predictable clinical results, it is critical that the mechanisms and proteins and factors guiding tissue development, maintenance, and regeneration be understood at the cellular and molecular level. This has resulted in an increased emphasis on identifying components of the periodontium and subsequently determining how these proteins and factors regulate cell behavior. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the proteins and factors considered important to development, maintenance, and regeneration of periodontal tissues.