Introduction Achieving successful tissue regeneration following traditional therapeutic protocols, combining bone grafts and barrier membranes, may be challenging in certain clinical scenarios. A deeper understanding of periodontal and peri-implant wound healing and recent advances in the field of tissue engineering have enabled clinicians with novel means to obtain predictable clinical outcomes. The use of growth factors such as recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF) with biocompatible matrices to promote tissue regeneration represents a promising approach in the disciplines of periodontology and implantology. Areas covered This review covers the basic principles of bone and periodontal regeneration, and provides overview of the biology of PDGF and its potential to predictably and reproducibly promote bone regeneration in regular clinical practice. The results of preclinical and clinical human studies evaluating the effectiveness of growth factor-enhanced matrices are analyzed and discussed. Expert opinion Current available evidence supports the use of rhPDGF-enhanced matrices to promote periodontal and peri-implant bone regeneration.

Recombinant human PDGF-BB combined with a type I collagen matrix has potential to be used to augment surgical repair of rotator cuff tears, thereby improving clinical success.

Composite endpoints are advantageous in periodontal clinical trials where no single efficacy endpoint has been established as the most important. A composite endpoint, combining outcome measures of both hard and soft tissue components of the periodontium, may be preferable for assessing efficacy of periodontal regenerative therapies. Two composite endpoints are offered to meet this need.

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