Bone induction in craniofacial defects.

Reconstruction of craniofacial bony deficiencies, whether acquired through trauma or as a result of treatment for disease, is a chronic problem. Although numerous approaches utilizing a wide array of materials ranging from alloplastic materials to autogenous bone grafts have been employed to achieve bony replacement, no ideal clinical approach exists. In this brief review, we will provide an overview of current approaches to treating craniofacial bony defects. We will then discuss advances being made in the design of scaffolding materials and potential candidate cell types with which to design tissue-engineered constructs for craniofacial skeletal repair.