Applications of tissue engineering in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Introduction: Engineering of craniofacial tissues will have a profound impact on treatment strategies and surgical modalities in the future. Millions of patients across all ages are affected annually by sequelae of aberrant development, trauma and disease. Tissue engineering is a relatively new interdisciplinary field that seeks to provide a unique solution to tissue loss or deficiency. This involves implanting specific population of autologous living cells that have been isolated, expanded in tissue culture and introduced into scaffolds like a polymer framework. 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. The paper 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 basic and clinical scientists are imperative to revolutionise our field.