Dental News - Platelet-rich plasma helps after extractions

Fred Michmershuizen, DTA

Wed. 25 August 2010

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NEW YORK, NY, USA: The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) following tooth removal appears to speed healing and bone formation, according to a recent article in the Journal of Oral Implantology, the official publication of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics.

When a tooth is removed, poor healing can lead to excessive bone loss in the jaw that can delay tooth replacement, require costly reconstructive surgery or even be impossible to fix, according to the article, “Platelet Rich Plasma to Facilitate Wound Healing Following Tooth Extraction” (available at www2.allenpress.com/pdf/ORIM36.1FNL.pdf).

“Patients and clinicians could benefit if a cost-effective, simple technique were available that decreased bone-healing time and increased the predictability of favorable results,” the article states.

For the study, radiography techniques were used with patients to detect bone changes after surgery to remove molars — specifically, the bilateral mandibular third molar. For each patient, one extraction site was treated with PRP and the site on the other side of the mouth was not, serving as the control. Three patients received PRP on the right side and three on the left.

The patients returned after the operation for evaluations. Observers checked visually to evaluate tissue opening, bleeding, inflammation, facial edema and pain. The early radiographs found a significant increase in bone density in the PRP-treated sites.

“The PRP treatment had a positive effect on bone density immediately following tooth extraction,” the article states.

Patients did not report significant differences in their perception of pain, bleeding, numbness, facial edema or temperature between the different sites, according to the study.

Faster bone formation could benefit patients who need immediate prostheses or dental implants, according to the article, because the current four- to six-month wait for these could be reduced to two to four months if PRP is used.

Overall, the article states, PRP increases the rate of bone formation and decreases the healing time during the initial two weeks after surgery, helping patients return to “full function” sooner.

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