There has been significant advancement in the field of periodontal tissue engineering over the past decade for the repair of tooth-supporting structures. Although encouraging results for periodontal tissue regeneration have been found in numerous clinical investigations using recombinant growth factors, limitations exist with topical protein delivery. Newer approaches seek to develop methodologies that optimize growth factor targeting to maximize the therapeutic outcome of periodontal regenerative procedures. Genetic approaches in periodontal tissue engineering show early progress in achieving delivery of growth factor genes, such as platelet-derived growth factor or bone morphogenetic protein, to periodontal lesions. Ongoing investigations in ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer to periodontia seek to examine the extent of the potential effects in stimulating periodontal tissue engineering.