Platelet-Rich
Plasma
As part of your surgical treatment plan, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The plasma in your blood includes the proteins, nutrients, and hormones necessary for soft and hard tissue healing and regeneration. By optimizing the healing process, the risk of post-operative infection is reduced and patients can go about their daily lives faster.
Platelet-rich plasma has a number of oral surgery applications such as bone grafts, ridge augmentations, cyst extractions, sinus lifts, and tooth extractions.
Read on to see how platelet-rich plasma is made and used at BiemCare in Camas, Washington.
PROCEDURE TIME: 15-20 Minutes
In a number of studies, patients treated with platelet-rich plasma were shown to heal up to six times faster compared to control groups not treated with platelet-rich plasma. Fast healing is always ideal in oral surgeries. Faster healing is typically associated with better outcomes as the tissues are less susceptible to bacterial infection.
Some additional benefits of PRP include:
- Faster tissue synthesis and regeneration
- Safe for a majority of patients
- PRP can be done at the same time as surgery, saving time
- Enhances bone graft procedures
While PRP comes with many benefits, it is not ideal for patients with hematologic or bleeding disorders. The doctor will go over your health status before recommending a treatment using platelet-rich plasma.
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from a patient’s own blood. Prior to the procedure, the dentist or oral surgeon will extract a small vial of your blood. The vial is then inserted into a centrifuge where it is spun at a high rate of speed in order to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the red blood cells.
Following a tooth extraction or dental implant procedure, platelet-rich plasma is added to the extraction site. Sometimes, the PRP is mixed with bone graft particulates to stimulate healing and bone growth.