Raphael Huntley, DDS, PhD

Single-Stage Craniofacial Reconstruction Using Bioengineered Pre-Embedded Dental Implants

Abstract
Dental and craniofacial bone loss is a major clinical challenge that limits restoration of function and aesthetics after trauma, infection, or oncologic resection. In standard practice, dental rehabilitation depends on the availability of sufficient bone to anchor implants or prosthetic devices. More than half of patients undergoing dental implant placement require bone grafting before implant insertion, often requiring multiple staged surgeries over months. Current bone graft options can be effective, but have significant drawbacks. including donor site morbidity, poor vascularization, unpredictable resorption, and prolonged osteointegration times. To address this critical need, we propose the development of biomimetic, osteoinductive, and vascularized hard-tissue constructs to enable single-stage reconstruction and immediate functional restoration. This proposal directly addresses this need through the development of a novel class of implant embedded 3D-printed bone constructs that can be stored as a stable off-the-shelf and ready-to-use product. The novel technology leverages new advances in 3D bioprinting to generate stem cell embedded hard tissue matrices with an embedded dental implant. After a period of in vitro osseointegration,the implant-embedded-construct is decellularized for storage before use. In total, this project seeks to develop a new breakthrough in dental implant technology as well as a paradigm shift in standard of care by eliminating the need for a second surgery.