Tissue Engineering in Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery

Engineering of oral and cranio-facial tissues will have a profound impact on treatment strategies and surgical modalities in the future. Several patients across all ages are affected annually by sequelae of aberrant development, trauma and disease. Tissue Engineering is an inter-disciplinary field that seeks to provide a unique solution to tissue loss/deficiency. The concept of conscripting patients' own cells to rebuild lost or damaged tissue is the basis of several novel tissue engineering techniques. The future will see rehabilitation strategies shift from prosthetic to regenerative. This text discusses the scope and applications of tissue engineering in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery along with its utility in clinical dentistry. It reflects on how close partnerships between clinical scientists and practitioners are imperative to revolutionise our field.