Clinical strategies for dental and periodontal disease management: A way forward

The goal of regenerative dentistry is to induce biologic replacement of dental tissues and their supporting structures. Regenerative endodontics is a new field within the specialty of endodontics that focuses on promoting the physiological and functional regeneration of the damaged pulp-dentin complex. Periodontitis is among the most prevalent inflammatory diseases affecting almost half of the U.S. adult population and, if left untreated, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adulthood. Periodontal regenerative therapy has been developed under the premise of regenerating the lost periodontal structures, given that the inflammation is controlled. Bone grafts are widely used as a therapeutic strategy to enhance periodontal regeneration. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a distinctly different approach that aims to regenerate a new periodontal apparatus on a previously diseased root surface. Combination of different periodontal regeneration therapies has been shown to enhance clinical outcomes. One of the most common therapies is combination of osseous grafting with GTR.