Platelet-rich fibrin treatment, better known as PRF treatment, has many uses in dentistry and regenerative medicine. The procedure is typically used to improve bone healing after surgical procedures like the placement of dental implants, bone grafts, or tooth extractions.
The technique was developed when a French surgeon, Dr. Joseph Choukroun, noticed that PFR treatment accelerated healing after performing facial surgeries. The technique is now widely used to promote healing after surgical treatments performed by oral surgeons.
Platelet-rich fibrin is a byproduct of plasma in the blood, which is rich in platelets. PRF is simply a byproduct of blood that is rich in growth factors and platelets, the molecules that facilitate communication between cells.
PRF treatments are now used as a tool that improves soft tissue and bone tissue regeneration after surgical procedures or to heal injuries that affect soft or bone tissues in the mouth. Some of the uses of PRF in modern dentistry include:
PRF therapy is a safe procedure since it is performed using a byproduct of the patient’s blood. During the treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge that separates the plasma from other components in the blood in about 15 minutes.
The procedure can be conveniently performed while an oral surgeon performs outpatient surgical treatments like the installation of implants. The area worked on is supersaturated with PRF, which speeds up the regeneration process. It helps to reduce the risk of complications when performing such procedures, particularly with at-risk patients like the elderly.
It is a cost-effective procedure, and it is minimally invasive since it only requires drawing a small amount of blood. PRF therapy has countless applications in dentistry, like surgical treatments for lip and palate defects, bone grafts, implant placement, extractions, and closure of clefts.
PRF treatments are an outpatient procedure that involves drawing some blood and separating the platelets from the white and red blood cells. During dental surgical procedures, this fortified blood can be applied to areas being treated to speed up the healing process. It is equally effective on soft and bone tissues.
The jawbone is often exposed during surgical procedures like the placement of implants. Blood supply is limited in the area, and such regions in the body have reduced capabilities to heal. These areas also have reduced defenses against fungal and bacterial infections. PRF protects areas from infection while enriching them with growth factors and proteins that promote new tissue growth.
Some of the commonly performed treatments an oral surgeon might recommend PRF therapy for include:
These are a popular option for patients with missing teeth and are the only teeth replacement option that prevents bone tissues in the jaw from breaking down due to teeth falling out. Implants replace teeth roots and serve as bases for dental cosmetics like crowns or dentures.
Implants are the closest thing to real teeth a dentist can provide, but recovery from their surgical placement can take up to six months as bone tissues fuse with the implant. PRF can be applied on the jawbone and areas incisions are made into the gum tissue to speed up the healing process and reduce the risk of complications.
Bone grafts might be recommended for various reasons, like thickening a patient’s bone tissues for implants or addressing oral defects and injuries. It typically takes up to three months to recover from bone grafts, but PRF can be used to speed things up. It speeds up fusion between host and donor tissues while encouraging the growth of new bone cells.
Extractions are often recommended when other options to save a tooth have been exhausted. In some cases, the procedure is performed preemptively, as is often the case with wisdom teeth that do not serve any real purpose. PRF can be used to prevent irritants from getting into the extracted tooth’s socket while speeding up the growth of bone tissue to fill it up.
Give us a call or visit our Arroyo Grande clinic to find out if PRP therapy is right for you if you plan on getting oral surgery sometime soon.
Request an appointment here: https://arroyogrande.centralcoastoms.com or call Wilson Oral Surgery at (805) 476-2567 for an appointment in our Arroyo Grande office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Implant dentistry is a great way to replace one or multiple teeth long-term. An often overlooked benefit of implant dentistry is the ability to prevent bone loss in the jaw. This review discusses how implant dentistry can help you keep your jawbone healthy and prevent bone atrophy.Alternative solutions to implant dentistry do not provide the…
Oral surgeons take care of many oral health issues, but while dentists might look at the surface of the teeth for cleanings and fillings, an oral surgeon often uses a dental CT scan to delve deeper into the many elements of the mouth that are not as easily visible. Patients may need one for various…
Implant dentistry uses dental implants to serve as the support for replacement teeth. The process involves a minor surgical procedure to place the implants. Although the risks are minimal, it can take some time for the mouth to fully heal and for the dental implants to fuse together with the jawbone after the implant dentistry…
Dealing with an oral health challenge is not how anyone wants to spend their time, but the good news is that an oral biopsy can clarify the problem and how best to approach it. An oral surgeon may use a biopsy to diagnose issues like infections or potentially cancerous cells. However, patients should not feel…