The application of biomaterials and stem cells in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery might represent a suitable tool for a better comprehension of the biological mechanisms of craniofacial tissues regeneration. Particularly, the repair of complex craniofacial defects represents a tough challenge in injuries, congenital deformities, or diseases. Many biomaterials used in this field did not succeed in regenerating craniofacial defects, due to limited scaffold reabsorption, low vascularization, and poor colonization of the graft by the host cells. Therefore, the development of an adequate stem cells/scaffold complex might represent a way to face such hinders. In order to understand the etiology and pathology of congenital malformations, well founded knowledge of the embryonic development of craniofacial tissues is primary. The use of stem cell based therapies for oral and craniofacial disorders is one of the most advanced techniques to improve the regenerative response.

To this regard, different stem cells sources have been studied for the treatment of manifold defects and improvements have been achieved by the pursuit of the most suitable scaffolds for the delivery of cell therapies in regenerative medicine.

Over the last decades, stem cells from different sources, such as bone marrow, dental pulp, adipose tissue, and muscle, have been investigated for their self-renewal properties, differentiation potential, and immunomodulatory properties, in order to develop therapeutic approaches for the healing of different tissue injuries, including dental and maxillofacial defects. In parallel, various biomaterials and their surface modifications have been studied so far, in order to promote the best regeneration and functional recovery of different organs. Distinct types of craniofacial scaffolds, made of a specific material or composite of substrates, have been developed, based on the tissue being regenerated. Furthermore, several studies, both in vitro and in vivo, proved the capability of different stem cell populations, scaffold types, and growth factors, to restore either soft or hard tissues in craniofacial disorders, besides offering promising tools for dental medical applications.

This special issue aims to invite researchers in oral and maxillofacial fields to contribute original research articles as well as review articles, in order to elucidate the current concept of craniofacial tissue engineering implants and groundbreaking findings in stem cell-based approaches for the potential treatment of oral and craniofacial disorders.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Development of biocompatible scaffolds for the regeneration of oral and craniofacial defects
• Impact of biomaterials nanostructure and surface treatment on stem cell biology and differentiation
• Regenerative potential of stem cells/scaffold complexes in animal models of critical size bone defects
• Paracrine effects VS role of stem cells terminal differentiation in hard and soft tissues regeneration
• Angiogenesis promotion and histointegration of stem cells/scaffold complexes
• Effect of bioactive molecules and growth factors on stem cells
• Immunomodulatory and regenerative properties of stem cells
• Developmental biology of craniofacial tissues