Gene Therapy in Periodontics: A Review and Future Implications

Abstract

New advancements in gene therapy continue to have a significant impact on dentistry since 1995. At the same time, periodontal disease has attracted the attention of scholars and research scientists as a global concern. With a better understanding of disease progression and new advancement in biological science, gene therapy has emerged to enhance existing therapy and has radically recast approaches to the management of periodontal disease. Since the advent of gene therapy in dentistry, significant progress has been made to control periodontal disease and reconstruct the dentoalveolar apparatus. However, to date, gene therapy methods have not been developed to control periodontal disease due to its multifactorial origin, complex genetic predisposition, and risk associated with it. This review article provides a brief insight into the ever-expanding field of gene therapy and its possible future implication in the field of periodontics. Most of the modalities described in this article are more theoretical and still in infancy stage except for genetically fabricated materials used for regenerative purposes.