Tissue Engineering : a new paradigm in the field of Periodontology

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease. If untreated, this disorder can destroy the supporting apparatus of the teeth, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Periodontal therapy for the treatment of periodontitis involves the elimination of bacterial plaque. The management of periodontal defects, including destruction of the periodontal ligament, cementum and the formation of intrabony defects, has always been a challenge in clinical periodontics. In 1993, Langer and his colleagues proposed tissue engineering as a possible technique for regenerating lost tissue. This approach reconstructs natural target tissue by combining three elements: a scaffold, signalling molecules and cells.