Current concepts of periodontal regeneration. A review of the literature.

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the various regenerative therapies and materials in use today, along with treatment and patient variables that may affect outcome predictability. Future direction in this ever-changing field is also discussed. Techniques currently in use are reviewed and evaluated. They include open flap debridement, the use of bone grafts and bone substitutes, guided tissue regeneration, combination techniques, root surface treatment and the use of biologics. Clinical and histological human studies employing the above-mentioned treatments are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of each treatment modality are discussed, along with patient and local factors that have been shown to affect success rates.