Emerging Biomaterials & Techniques in Tissue Engineering

Reconstructive craniomaxillofacial surgery has evolved exponentially.The present possibilities of treatment and the future outlook provide numerous solutions for existing treatment challenges and innumerable opportunities for the continued development in this field. Advances in stem cell research, specifically orofacial stem cells, have had huge implications in the overall development and refinement of previous therapies. Simultaneous advances in the research of growth factors, scaffold systems, and 3D printing have allowed for all of these components to be combined, evaluated, and improved, leading to the fabrication of continuously refined constructs that have become a foundational part of reconstructive surgery. The ultimate goal of craniomaxillofacial reconstruction is not only to restore missing tissues but also to do so in a manner that most closely mimics the natural state in both form and function. The final goal is to provide invaluable information through both research and clinical examples that will be beneficial to oral and maxillofacial surgeons that will ultimately lead the way in the continued path to the refinement of biomaterials and tissue regeneration.