Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a technique currently used in dentistry for periodontal surgery, oral surgery, implant dentistry and reconstruction of maxillomandibular defects. The basic premise for this technique is to allow for osseous regeneration prior to soft tissue migration into the area of interest. This is accomplished with the use of membranes that prevent the migration of the soft tissue element into the bony defect. This paper discusses current uses for GTR techniques and reviews some of the materials now available for this purpose.