Overview of effects of electrical stimulation on osteogenesis and alveolar bone.

One endpoint of periodontal therapy is to regenerate structure lost to periodontal disease. Periodontal regeneration requires both formation of a new connective tissue attachment to the tooth and formation of alveolar bone. Several procedural advances may support regeneration of the attachment, however, regeneration of alveolar bone does not occur consistently. Therefore, factors which stimulate bone repair are areas for research in periodontal reconstructive therapy. Effects of cytokines or growth factors on bone repair are examples of such areas. Another one is electrical stimulation which naturally occurs in bone, and as such bone may be particularly susceptible to electrical therapy. This overview describes the potential of electrical stimulation for bone regeneration and applications in alveolar and periodontal research.