GROWTH FACTOR ENHANCED MATRICES IN PERIODONTAL REGENERATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the supporting structures of teeth, including the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. Conventional periodontal therapies primarily aim to control disease progression but often result in repair rather than true regeneration of lost periodontal tissues. The emergence of growth factor-enhanced matrices (GFEMs) has significantly advanced regenerative periodontology by combining biologically active signaling molecules with scaffold systems capable of controlled release and structural support. This literature review evaluates the role of growth factor-enhanced matrices in periodontal regeneration from 2018 to 2026, with emphasis on their biological mechanisms, clinical applications, limitations, and future directions. Major growth factors used in regenerative therapy include platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), enamel matrix derivatives (EMD), and platelet concentrates. Among currently available regenerative products, GEM 21S, which combines recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rh PDGF-BB) with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), remains one of the most extensively studied and clinically validated systems.