With all types of allergies on the rise, biocompatibility is more important than ever. Just like you want to be sure that any materials used to replace or restore teeth are a good match for your individual biochemistry, any materials used to support the healing process should be biocompatible, as well.
That’s certainly the case with platelet rich fibrin (PRF), which is made from a small amount of your very own blood. You can’t get more biocompatible than that! Developed nearly 20 years ago, utilizing PRF to support healing is key in each oral surgery we do at our holistic dental office here in Fremont.
PRF has been shown to reduce the risk of cavitations, stimulate regeneration of hard and soft tissue in the oral cavity, and enhance the stability of dental implants. The most recent review of the scientific literature, published this past fall in JADA, confirmed that, in addition to reducing post-op discomfort and accelerating healing, PRF may prevent additional bone loss following tooth extraction.
PRF is simple to prepare, and we do so right before your surgery. We just take a sample of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge to separate platelets, leukocytes (white blood cells), and other important cells into a clot that we then place at the surgical site.
Once the PRF is placed, the platelets act like multitasking cheerleaders by going into healing overdrive, with growth factors that attract stem cells to the site of injury, promote cell mitosis, and stimulate bone and soft tissue regeneration. Another valuable component to platelets are leukocytes, which protect against infection and help repair damaged tissue. Meantime, the fibrin acts like biological party planner, providing a matrix where “cells may proliferate, organize, and carry out their functions, mainly, in sites that suffered injury or inflammation.”
More, PRF’s ability to encourage the formation of new capillaries increases blood flow around the surgical site, offering additional healing support. Not only does this mean good nutrient delivery to regenerating tissues; it helps clear any lingering toxins from the area, allowing healthy new tissue every chance to thrive.
Because of its effect on circulation, PRF has also been found to reduce the chance of dry socket – a painful condition that can occur after extraction if a natural blood clot doesn’t form or gets dislodged. Research has shown that PRF may reduce the risk of dry socket by as much as 90%!
All of those benefits come without the chemicals, foreign substances, or additives from conventional treatments that could trigger a reaction or inflammation that might compromise your body’s ability to heal. Plus, reduction in pain means less discomfort, but also less pain medication.
PRF doesn’t replace the kind of self-care you’ll still need to follow after any type of oral surgery, but this minimally invasive, biocompatible tool is definitely one you want in your biological dentist’s toolbox!
