Question: This may sound crazy, but here goes: My dentist will be removing some of my hopeless teeth with the intention of replacing them with implants and crowns. He wished to fill the sockets after the teeth are pulled with either bovine (cow) bone or freeze-dried human bone. I am a strict vegetarian and am opposed to either choice. What else can be done? - Maggie in Delray Beach
Answer: I have a solution. RTR (resorbable bone replacement) is a synthetic bone grafting material made of micro- and macroporous beta-tricalcium phosphate granules that are intended to foster new dense bone growth in three to six months. The material comes in 0.8-cc syringes, which allow the patient’s own blood from the mouth to be drawn up and mixed with the graft material before placement into the extraction sockets. This material serves as a proven alternative to human or bovine grafts, which are often necessary before implants are placed. If you have any questions please contact us at 239-936-5252.