Polymeric implants in craniomaxillofacial reconstruction.

With advances in polymer chemistry, polymeric implants are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to autogenous bone. Although polymeric implants were traditionally used to bridge bony defects and modify the overlying soft tissue envelope, new resorbable polymers may allow bony replacement and may be used as alternatives to metals in rigid fixation. This article contains an overview of polymeric implants from acrylics to modern resorbable polymers.