Are bone grafts and lasers effective?
John’s testimonial “When I found Dr. Hoisington I had already been to three other dentists in Houston and Phoenix who told me to have several teeth extracted before they would even start to treat me. I didn’t stop smoking like I should have but still have my teeth. Dentures are my worst nightmare since my parents had them.” A. Grafts and lasers can be effective, but they are both problematic. Bone grafts are very unpredictable. Statistically, only about a 50% success rate can be achieved, possibly because the invasive surgery required cuts off circulation to the bone resulting in bone cell death and necrosis, unfavorable conditions for graft survival. Lasers, on the other hand, do not consistently set up the conditions where the bone can heal. On the contrary, there is peer reviewed evidence, both in vivo and in vitro, that use of lasers for regeneration procedures and/or gingival curettage may place patients at risk for damage to root surfaces and the supporting bone that, in turn, co
