Tissue Engineering in Periodontics

The treatment of periodontal disease has evolved from just fighting bacteria to combined efforts to eliminate the offending microorganisms, to arrest the progression of tissue damage and to regenerate lost tissues. Tissue engineering strategy for periodontal regeneration exploits the regenerative capacity of cells residing within the periodontium and involves the use of such cells grown within a three-dimensional construct in combination with signalling molecules, and subsequent implantation into the defect. The concept of tissue engineering is intimately associated with the events occurring during periodontal wound healing embryogenesis. This amalgamation of bioengineering and dentistry will result in an explosion of knowledge that will enhance our understanding of craniofacial development and culminate in a new era in dentistry, enabling us to restore lost tissue function. The present book focuses on this new vista for periodontal regeneration through the use of transplanted biomaterials seeded with appropriately selected and primed cells and bioactive molecules.