Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)
 No one wants a dry socket. It is an unwanted risk of the healing process. One of the best-known ways to prevent a dry socket is platelet rich fibrin (PRF).
There have been many clinical studies to test ways to prevent dry socket and reduced the pain, swelling, and risk of infection. Can we put anything in the extraction socket to aid healing or prevent a dry socket? An antibiotic? Collagen? Bone wax? More than 10 different ideas tested in 2500 patients didn’t come up with a good solution. Until PRF.
PRF concentrates healing power
In the normal healing process, your immune system sends white blood cells and growth factors to the surgery site. These good healing cells also bring pain, inflammation, and swelling with them. PRF is a collection of those good cells, which gives you a three-day jump start on the healing process, without waiting for the swelling and inflammation to bring the good cells. PRF reduces pain, speeds healing, and lowers the chance of getting a dry socket. PRF has many uses in medicine: for tendinitis, arthritis, plastic surgery, and in oral surgery. Using platelet rich fibrin is especially useful for those with diabetes and other conditions which impair healing due to reduced blood flow.
 What is platelet rich fibrin made from?
PRF is made from the patient’s own blood. Blood is drawn from the vein into test tubes. This blood is spun in a centrifuge while your teeth are being extracted. By the time the teeth are out, the PRF is ready. While spinning in the centrifuge, the blood separates three layers: red blood cells, platelet rich fibrin (PRF), and watery platelet poor plasma. The layer of PRF is yellow and gummy. It contains white blood cells, growth factors, fibrinogen (that helps with clotting), and more—all the good stuff. This gummy layer of PRF is removed from the test tube and placed in the extraction socket.
At Optimum Oral Surgery Group, we provide this service. Using PRF goes above and beyond the standard of care. This is an added value to your treatment because we want you to have an easy and quick recovery. |
