Workflow for Fabricating 3D-Printed Resorbable Personalized Porous Scaffolds for Orofacial Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Resorption of alveolar bone following tooth extraction is a physiological process that can often prevent the placement of dental implants due to the limited bone remaining. In severe cases, vertical bone augmentation, which aims to restore bone in an extraskeletal dimension (outside of the skeletal envelope), is required prior to implant placement. While current treatment strategies rely on autologous grafts, or “Guided Bone Regeneration” involving the placement of particulate bone grafting biomaterials under a protective membrane, the field is shifting to patient-matched solutions. Herein, we describe the various steps required for modeling the patient data, creating the patient-matched scaffold geometry and 3D-printing using the biodegradable polymer polycaprolactone for application in the oro-dental and craniofacial areas.