Clinical translation of 3D bioprinting in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction: Recent progress and future directions

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Oral and maxillofacial reconstruction (OMF) requires regeneration of bone, soft tissue, vasculature, and nerves. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers a paradigm shift, enabling fabrication of patient-specific, cell-laden constructs designed to restore both anatomical form and biological function. This review presents an updated review on the clinical translation of 3D bioprinting in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction and presents future directions. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published up to June 2025, using search terms such as "3D bioprinting," "bioink," "OMF reconstruction," and tissue-specific phrases. Extracted data addressed bioprinting strategies, biomaterials, and outcomes, which were synthesized into translational phases and tissue-specific applications. Results Four phases of translational progress were identified: (1) in vitro validation of bioinks and cell viability; (2) small-animal studies demonstrating osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and pulp-periodontal regeneration; (3) large-animal models addressing anatomical scalability and achieving partial functional integration; and (4) early human applications of acellular, patient-specific scaffolds. Success depends on tailoring bioinks-integrating stem cells, biomaterials, and signaling molecules-for tissues suc

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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