Bone’s smart envelope - The periosteum: Unleashing its regenerative potential for periodontal reconstruction

Abstract

Prime aim of periodontal therapy is to set up a state of periodontal health with pocket elimination and attachment level gain, preferably by periodontal regeneration. Various tools/techniques have been proposed for this purpose. But, the quest still continues. In this context, the periosteum offers an attractive option for periodontal regeneration. The rationale for the use of periosteum lies in its anatomy and its physiologic functions during normalcy. Periosteum contains the desired stem cells and progenitor cells that are capable to produce periodontal tissues. Periosteum has high vasculo-proliferative and neuro-trophic activities. In addition, it is easier for the dentist to harvest the periosteum for clinical use. It can be harvested from adjacent to the surgery site in sufficient amounts. Even though it has many advantages, there is only limited research for exploiting the regenerative potential of periosteum for periodontal regeneration so far. Conversely, in the medical field, the periosteum is extensively used and proved to be promising. Hence, the aim of this paper is to discuss the regenerative potential of periosteum and various available tools and techniques to harness it for periodontal regeneration