The most challenging problem in oral and maxillofacial surgery is the reconstruction of defects for the oral and maxillofacial complex. Transfer of different autografts is known as the "gold standard" for the reconstruction of bone defects in the oral and maxillofacial region. Graft harvesting, however, can lead to many complications, such as donor-site morbidity, surgical time-consuming, etc. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is an innovative technique that allows the fabrication of personalized plates and scaffolds to fit the precise anatomy of an individual's defect. In this study, a selective laser melting 3D-printed Ti-6Al-4 V plate with a honeycomb was designed, and its physical and biological features were characterized. The personalized 3D-printed scaffold and commercialized titanium reconstruction plate were applied to reconstruct a 4 cm mandibular defect in a beagle dog. Effects of the treatment were analyzed radiologically and histologically. Our results showed that the application of a 3D-printed plate with a honeycomb achieved good biocompatibility and osseointegration and has potential clinical application.
Keywords: 3D printing; honeycomb; mandibular defect; reconstruction.