FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Dental implants are so popular it's estimated that in the year 2011 it will become a billion dollar industry.

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Implants can replace teeth that have fallen out, but this can only be done if there is bone on which the implants can be attached.

A Fort Lauderdale surgeon is using a unique procedure to help rebuild bone and therefore rebuild smiles for many patients.

Peter McGuire, 68, has a lot to smile about these days. He has a new set of teeth after living years without them.

"When I was younger I played sport and I had them knocked out and some of them got rotten and they've been out for a while," said McGuire.

McGuire has new implants but they didn't come easy.

Previous mini-implants did not work.

"They weren't a success because I had no bone left," said McGuire.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Todd Sawisch was able to help McGuire using a new procedure that can rebuild the jawbone.

"I use a combination of methods one which we call PRP or platelet rich plasma where we harvest blood from the patient," said Sawisch.

Then plateletes from that blood are mixed with bone harvested from the patient's body.

"The doctor took some bone out of my left leg," said McGuire.

"We know today that platelets are not just good for clotting but they also contain growth factors. These platelets with the growth factors are added into the bone graft or the tissue graft to enhance healing and speed up the recovery time," said Sawisch.

It takes about 6-9 months to regenerate bone.

The technology produces amazing results.

"We were able to reconstruct the lower jaw with a permanent denture that is not removed and the upper jaw has a removable denture that he can take out and clean," said Sawisch.

Because McGuire's case was so detailed it took a total of a year and a half to get his new smile.

But he said it was well worth the wait.

"I can eat much better. I'm not afraid to smile," said McGuire.

McGire said he was surprised there was little to no pain during the entire process.

To contact Dr. Todd Sawisch call 954-772-2000.