title: [Role of saliva, salivary glands and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on oral wound healing].
abstract: Saliva perform a number of biologic functions that are instrumental in maintaining oral health. Those are: lubrication, remineralization, buffering, antimicrobial protection, cleansing and maintenance of mucosal integrity. Saliva provides a natural reservoir of growth factors. By far the most highly characterized growth factor is EGF. Animal and human studies suggest that EGF plays a fundamental role in systemic and oral wound healing. This brief review is designed not to discuss all effects of EGF in detail but to highlight the basic principles of growth factors' action and their role in oral health.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Egyetem Fogorvostudományi Kar, Orálbiológiai Tanszék, Budapest.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth; D009909:Oral Health; D012463:Saliva; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor