Maxillofacial Reconstruction: From Autogenous Bone Grafts to Bone Tissue Engineering

Maxillofacial reconstruction (using autogenous bone grafts, biomaterials, growth factors, distraction osteogenesis, dental implants, and bone tissue engineering) is complex and poses significant challenges to surgeons. The use of these techniques has profoundly improved patients’ function, form, and quality of life. Several techniques are currently being used to treat bone defects of the jaws (ranging from minor to major defects), including autogenous bone grafting, guided bone regeneration, the use of growth factors with biomaterials, and distraction osteogenesis. Dental implants have become a routine treatment for the final and total rehabilitation of patients. Bioengineering of autologous bone is an exciting minimally invasive alternative to bone harvesting techniques to replace missing bone of any part of the skeleton. Advances in the field of bone tissue engineering over the past few decades offer promising new treatment alternatives using biocompatible scaffold materials, autologous mesenchymal stem cells, and growth factors. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a variety of different current evidence-based treatment options, as well as novel tissue engineering technologies for the reconstruction of minor and major jaw defects.