Dentistry has seen a lot of changes in the past few years. One of the latest advancements is platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a treatment that uses the patient’s own blood to heal dental problems. This innovative approach is proving to be much more effective than traditional treatments, and it’s quickly gaining popularity among dentists and patients alike. Here’s what you need to know about PRF and how it can benefit your oral health.
What is PRF?
Platelet-rich fibrin was first discovered by a French surgeon named Dr. Joseph Choukroun, when he realized it accelerated healing during facial surgeries. PRF is plasma, which is a by-product of blood that is rich in platelets. The growth factors of PRF are the molecules that allow communication between cells. This improves the regeneration of bone and tissue. Uses for PRF include:
- Shielding open wounds when a suture cannot completely bind it together
- Decreasing healing time
- Aiding in bone grafts by holding particles together
- Enhancing the formation of new bone
- Increasing soft tissue repair and connecting tissue with a bone graft
Advantages of Using PRF
Alongside its uses, there are many benefits to using PRF as part of your treatment. Since PRF is a by-product of the patient’s blood, there is no risk for disease transmission. It is cost effective because it can quickly be produced directly in the doctor’s office. Another advantage of PRF is that it is minimally invasive and low risk, while producing effective results. Since only a small portion is produced at a time, a downside of PRF is the amount available at one time. It also requires more experience on the clinician’s side to know how to properly do it.
How Does PRF Work?
Platelet-rich fibrin is harvested by taking a small amount of blood from the patient, and spun down in a centrifuge machine. During this process, the blood is separated into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The platelet-rich fibrin is then separated from the other sections, and used in the open wound. During some dental procedures, jaw bone is exposed and has little blood supply from other tissues in the body. Normally, these extraction sites are left to heal as an open wound. This makes the jaw bone vulnerable to saliva, bacteria, and other contaminants. With PRF, the extracted material is placed into the socket, protecting the site from infection, and providing the site with proteins and growth factors. This also helps promote new bone growth.
Platelet-rich fibrin is changing how dentistry is practiced by providing a concentration of growth factors that can improve the success rate and decrease healing time for oral procedures. If you are looking to have a PRF procedure or would like to learn more about how it can help you, contact our office today and one of our knowledgeable staff members will be happy to answer your questions. At Wilmington Oral Surgery, we offer advanced-PRF for our patients, maximizing healing, and minimizing discomfort.
