Growth factors have been used to promote regeneration of supporting tissue after periodontal disease. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) has received greatest attention because of its broad wound healing activities on both the bone and the soft tissue. Over the past several years, purified recombinant human PDGF (rh-PDGF), in combination with synthetic matrices such as beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) or allografts, has been studied to achieve periodontal regeneration in infrabony defects, and gingival recession defects in a series of rigorous clinical and preclinical trials that have eluded promising results. These evidence based findings are summarized here and the potential for this therapy to become the new standard of care for treatment of certain types of bone and soft tissue defects are discussed.