Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9.5
CONCLUSIONS
Bioprinting and nanotechnology research into craniofacial and dental regenerative medicine therapies
has utilized growth factors; however, the use of resorbable scaffolds and autologous or banked cells—
the remaining elements of tissue engineering—have not yet made their way to the clinic. Craniofacial
and dental bioprinting and nanotechnology are concentrated on patient-specific inert devices. This is a
large industry that has recently shown dramatic improvements in therapeutic efficacy and safety. There
is a revolution occurring in developing 3D printable materials that cover the range of material proper-
ties needed for patient-specific implants to perform mechanically like, indeed in tandem with, the tis-
sues to which they are attached. As advances are made in bone, retina, and other areas of craniofacial
and dental tissue engineering, they are likely to be incorporated into standard-of-care therapies, unless
they are novel enough to shift the current paradigm. Bioprinting and regenerative medicine promise
true quality care by facilitating the physician in “doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way,
for the right person—and having the best possible results.” However, the current paradigm is relatively
new; therefore, it remains to be seen whether the benefits of patient-specific medicine will be made
available throughout society through mechanisms like the Affordable Care Act in the United States.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Partial support for some of the authors' research reported in this chapter was derived from NIH grants
R01-DE013740 and R01-AR061460.
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ASPS. 2014. Plastic Surgery Procedures Continue Steady Growth in U.S. | ASPS.
Baum, S. 2013. Skull implant produced with 3-D printing technology could shake up orthopedics industry. Medcity
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2008. Update on overall prevalence of major birth defects -
Atlanta, Georgia, 1978-2005. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 57 (1), 1-5.
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