Application of LIPUS to Periodontal Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Exposure to ultrasound during the inflammatory phase of periodontal tissue repair leads to an acceleration of this phase, which may eventually lead to an anti-inflammatory effect by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) exposure. LIPUS has also been shown to enhance collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. As a consequence, LIPUS may be a promising candidate of treatment remedy for periodontal diseases such as periodontitis and orthodontically induced root resorption. Recent in vitro studies suggested that LIPUS promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, which is associated with upregulation of Runx2 and integrin β1 and activation of bone morphogenetic protein-smad signaling. Furthermore, recent in vivo studies have shown that LIPUS can enhance periodontal tissue repair and regeneration, especially if combined with the other treatment remedies for periodontal diseases such as guided tissue regeneration (GTR). These suggest that LIPUS could potentially enhance periodontal tissue repair and regeneration combined with GTR and provide therapeutic benefits in periodontal tissue regeneration.