Growth factors and their implications for clinicians: A brief review

Growth factors play a vital role in both homeostasis and disease. In recent years considerable research has revealed the importance of growth factors in biology and they are now becoming incorporated in the clinical literature. Growth factors are peptides (protein fractions) that transmit signals within and between cells. They were discovered in the early 1960s as growth stimulants in tissue culture. It is now evident that growth factors play a comprehensive role in the modulation of tissue growth and development. The modes of action of growth factors are discussed with examples pertinent to clinical dentistry.