Periodontal dressings were first introduced by Dr. A.W Ward in 1923, who suggested the use of periodontal dressing following periodontal surgery. Periodontal dressings are now widely used for various purposes by periodontists, although some controversy exists regarding the necessity of their application following periodontal surgery. They can broadly be categorized as eugenol-based dressings and noneugenol dressings. Over the years, many modifications have been made to the composition of such dressings to improve their physical and therapeutic properties. Controversies surrounding the rationale for their use, advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly employed periodontal dressings and their current status in clinical practice are described in this comprehensive review.