
From Bench to Bedside: The Evolution of Tissue Engineered Maxillofacial Reconstruction Part 2 with Dr. Melville
James C. Melville, DDS, FACS
James C. Melville, DDS, FACS
First conceptualized by W.T. Green in the 1970s, the advent of tissue engineering was a significant milestone in the field of medicine and surgery. What started as proof-of-concept studies in preclinical models has transitioned to clinically applicable regenerative strategies for maxillofacial reconstruction in patients. Tissue-engineered bone grafts have made the reconstruction of defects of the oral and maxillofacial region predictable and reliable without the need for harvesting autogenous bone. The “bench” part of this session will introduce and discuss the science regarding bone and nerve repair and regeneration. The “bedside” session will focus on key concepts for the successful clinical application of tissue engineering science to bone and nerve repair. This session will briefly discuss preoperative workup, preparation, and procedural options for patients with tumors, post-resection defects, and traumatic defects.