PLATELET RICH FIBRIN: A FASTER WAY TO HEAL

Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a high concentration of platelets used to accelerate healing, increase bone growth and tissue regeneration.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE PROCESS

Whole blood consists of four basic components; plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets are best known for their importance in clotting, however, platelets also contain growth factors that are very important in the healing process.

The body rushes cells towards a wound in order to initiate and assist the body in repairing itself. PRF permits the body to take advantage of its normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. The more growth factors released into a wound, the more stem cells are stimulated to produce healthy, new growth.

ADVANTAGES

• Safety: PRF is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.
• Convenience: A small amount of blood is needed and can be collected while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure.
• Faster healing: The saturation of growth factors to a surgical site permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

PRF can play an important role in oral and maxillofacial surgeries such as:

• Bone Grafting Reconstruction
• Implant Dentistry
• Sinus Lift Procedures
• Ridge Augmentation
• Socket Preservation Grafts
• Correction of Bony Defects

PREPARATION IS EASY

During the surgical procedure a small amount of your blood is drawn. This blood vial is then placed in a centrifuge machine. This is a machine that spins around very quickly, causing the blood components to separate. In approximately 10-15 minutes, the PRF is formed, prepared and ready to use.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRF AND PRP

Although Platelet Rich-Fibrin (PRF) and Platelet Rich-Plasma (PRP) are collected and produced in a similar fashion, they are not the same product.  The differences between the two make PRF stand out as a superior treatment option for oral surgery.

PRF has a higher concentration of platelets and stem cells in the final product due to its lower spin time in the centrifuge. The consistency between the two is also different. PRP is fluid, due to an anticoagulant used during the processing of the blood, whereas PRF has no anticoagulant added. This creates a spongy fibrin matrix that activates the platelets and allows for a slow release of growth factors, which accelerates the healing of soft and hard tissues.