Dynamics of wound healing in periodontal regenerative therapy

Experimental animal and clinical studies have increased understanding of the biology of healing following periodontal regenerative therapy and factors that may influence the outcome. Formation of a new connective tissue attachment rather than a long junctional epithelium at the tooth-gingival flap interface is dependent upon the completion of a series of interactions among the root surface, plasma and tissue factors, and the connective tissue of the gingival flap. First, plasma proteins must adsorb to and remain in undisturbed contact with a generally noncompromised root surface. Next, adhesion of the established fibrin clot to the root surface must remain intact. Within days, a cellular and fibrous attachment will form; however, the tooth-gingival flap interface will still be vulnerable to wound-rupturing forces. Within two weeks the interface may have gained sufficient mechanical strength to offset such forces, at least in limited periodontal defects. Eventually, maturation of the fibrous attachment, including bone and cementum formation, will occur, particularly following adequate space provision by barrier membranes (guided tissue regeneration). A novel research focus involves how advances in molecular biology can translate to periodontal regenerative therapy. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to support healing in a variety of skeletal sites. Recent research has demonstrated clinically significant alveolar bone and cementum regeneration with the use of a recombinant human BMP-2 implant. Such data suggest that growth-promoting substances, such as rhBMP-2, may significantly enhance periodontal regeneration and that use of such substances may radically recast current periodontal regenerative therapy.