In current times, platelet-rich fibrin is one of the promising advancements in surgical dentistry. It is a technique that promotes wound healing after various procedures such as tooth extraction, dental implant surgery, gum grafting, and bone regeneration. Platelet-rich fibrin can be used solely or as an additive with other biomaterials. Besides oral and maxillofacial surgery, platelet-rich fibrin is applicable in different disciplines of dentistry. Other clinical applications of Sunnyvale PRF include filling cavities, bone regeneration, and minor otologic surgery. The following elaborates on platelet-rich fibrin, its advantages, and its advantages.
What is platelet-rich fibrin?
Platelet-rich plasma is a by-product obtained from plasma that is rich in platelets. Fibrin plasma has hemostatic, adhesive, and healing properties, making it useful for dental, thoracic, reconstructive, cardiovascular, ophthalmic, and neurological surgeries. It has higher concentrations of growth factors and platelets, promoting wound healing by enhancing the response of a patient’s cells.
How does platelet-rich fibrin work?
First, a specialist draws a blood sample from the patient and places it into a PRF centrifuge machine, where it is separated into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. The separation of platelets and growth factors results in regenerative capabilities, promoting faster healing of soft and hard tissues, which is essential for a patient’s recovery after procedures such as tooth extraction. Following a tooth extraction, a dentist fills the area where the tooth was with PRF to seal the area and promote advanced wound healing. PRF is also effective in procedures such as gum grafting. Periodontists recommend gum grafting for patients with receding gums which is often due to gum disease. Most patients report minor swelling and pain when specialists use PRF after a gum graft
What are the benefits of PRF?
Platelet-rich fibrin stimulates the body’s natural healing ability, which is essential for faster wound healing. Due to the high concentration of platelets in PRF, the body easily forms blood clots, preventing bleeding after a surgical procedure. The growth factors present in PRF promote tissue regeneration, thus faster-wound healing. It is a safe technique since it is a by-product of a patient’s blood. For this reason, it is less likely for patients to get an infection from donor tissue. The procedure is also faster – it takes less than 15 minutes for the PRF to form in a centrifuge. It is convenient for outpatient procedures such as the placement of dental implants.
The procedure is also minimally invasive and offers satisfactory clinical results, such as the reduced risk of complications such as implant failure, especially in elderly patients due to conditions like osteoporosis. It is also helpful in different clinical applications, including ridge augmentation, sinus lift procedures, closure of cleft lip and palate defects, and bone grafting for dental implants.
This new technique has fewer post-op complications, and patients require less downtime following a surgical procedure. Contact your specialist at Perio & Implant Centers of Monterey Bay to learn how you can benefit from platelet-rich fibrin.
