This June Dr. Werts traveled to Clarion, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, to learn the state of the art and science behind PRP and PRF for enhanced healing for oral surgical procedures at the Clarion Research Group with Dr’s James Rutkowski and Jim Fennell.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a liquid form, and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is a gelled membrane form of the products that we make from a small quantity of blood that we take from the patient just before their dental procedure. This blood is drawn in test tubes and then spun in a centrifuge which separates the blood into its individual components: 1. plasma, 2. red blood cells and 3. a small but very concentrated quantity of white blood cells and platelets called the “buffy coat”. It’s this buffy coat layer that contains the healing and growth factors that we use to enhance healing.
These products, processed from your own blood are then immediately placed into the surgical site. The scientifically proven positive effects of this procedure include better and faster soft tissue (gums) and hard tissue (bone) healing and regeneration. Because the healing occurs faster than usual, there is less chance of infection, dry socket, failed implants or failed grafting. These procedures are especially helpful to those who otherwise might have impaired healing such as diabetics , smokers, and others with chronic or acute conditions which can interfere with healing.