ABSTRACT
In order for oral and maxillofacial surgery to advance as a specialty, we must continuously investigate new treatment options. The scope of tissue engineering has exploded in an attempt to provide solutions to improve hard- and soft-tissue healing. Restoring three-dimensional (3D) form and function is of utmost importance through reconstruction of tissue defects, and tissue-engineered products can minimize morbidity associated with the harvest of autogenous soft and hard tissue grafts. Soft-tissue constructs attempt to decrease scar tissue formation and maximize our innate healing potential. Muco-cutaneous (M/C) grafts have been successfully fabricated for lip reconstruction. Regeneration of osseous and cartilagenous tissues requires the use of engineered scaffold constructs fabricated from various materials with the combination of numerous biological factors. In addition, investigation into regeneration of craniomaxillofacial structures is on the rise, and some have even evaluated prefabricated free vascularized hard tissue grafts for use in maxillofacial reconstruction.
