الفهرس 
INTRODUTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Mandibular defects may occur after trauma, tumor resection or osteomyelitis. Ideal reconstruction of mandibular defects must restore the functional and aesthetic aspects of the mandible. Many methods have been proposed for mandibular reconstruction, all of which are associated with certain disadvantages and complications. “Donor site morbidity” is a complication of special concern in case of using pedicled bone grafts or microvascular free flaps.
Within the last decade the newly emerging field of TE has developed to a level of sophistication that may offer an alternative approach to supplement the existing treatment strategies in mandibular reconstruction. TE involves the use of three principal elements: scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules (i.e., growth factors or proteins), which are combined in a suitable biological environment to produce engineered tissue which, in this study, is bone.
Many tests have been used to assess the mechanical properties of the engineered bone, among which is the “three point bending” test which we used in this study.
The study included twelve adult male goat mandibles divided into three groups; Normal (A), Resected (B), Reconstructed (C). All the twelve mandibles were prepared and tested for mechanical loading at the region of mandibular angle. The results showed that the “Max. Force” required to break the resected mandible was less than that required to break the normal one while the “Max. Force” required to break the reconstructed mandible was greater than that required to break the normal one indicating the efficiency of “tissue engineering” technique in engineering bone of sufficient mechanical strength.