Periosteum: A Highly Underrated Tool in Dentistry

• Main Author: Ajay Mahajan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Dentistry
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/717816

The ultimate goal of any dental treatment is the regeneration of lost tissues and alveolar bone. Under the appropriate culture conditions, periosteal cells secrete extracellular matrix and form a membranous structure. The periosteum can be easily harvested from the patient's own oral cavity, where the resulting donor site wound is invisible. Owing to the above reasons, the periosteum offers a rich cell source for bone tissue engineering; hence, the regenerative potential of periosteum is immense. Although the use of periosteum as a regenerative tool has been extensive in general medical field, the regenerative potential of periosteum is highly underestimated in dentistry; therefore, the present paper reviews the current literature related to the regenerative potential of periosteum and gives an insight to the future use of periosteum in dentistry.