An Accelerated, Safe, and Natural Way to Heal
We are seeing major breakthroughs in the field of integrative dentistry every day. Oral Surgery Michiana is one of the few dental practices in our area that offer PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin), a technique that accelerates healing after a dental procedure.
What is PRF?
PRF is the process of using your blood, drawn during your outpatient surgery, to create a new framework for tissue to grow in your wound site. Using a by-product of blood that is rich in platelets allows the body to take advantage of its normal healing pathways at a significantly accelerated rate.
Understanding Each Component of PRF
- Leukocytes – white blood cells – assist in healing our bodies by destroying pathogens (disease-causing organisms) and cleaning up dead cells.
- Platelets – cell fragments in our blood – help the body form blood clots and produce growth factors.
- Fibrin – a type of protein in our blood – aids platelets in creating blood clots.
What treatments use PRF?
PRF is used for dental and oral maxillofacial surgical procedures, including:
- Dental implants
- Bone defects
- Bone grafting
- Gum grafting
- Extraction sockets
- Sinus and dental ridge augmentation
- Palatal defects
- Maxillary bone atrophy
PRF Grafting
Grafting material is used to fill in an area where bone or tissue is absent, to help provide structural stability, and to assist in the healing process. PRF is an advanced grafting technique, in which we use your blood to create personalized grafting material. The extracted blood is mixed with either your bone, a bone substitute material, or a synthetic bone product. Not all bone-grafting cases require PRF, but when they do, the final amount of bone is increased, which expedites the overall healing.
How is PRF grafting material created?
We first take a small blood sample from you and then spin your blood in a centrifuge to separate its contents in order to construct a matrix or blood clot. Next, we place the matrix in a machine designed to compress the matrix into the desired thickness. If applicable, we then dip the PRF matrix into a mixture of bone grafting material to add healing elements for bone regeneration.
Each of these components works together to quickly create a scaffold — a framework for new tissue to grow on — that forms an efficient network for cell communication and healing. Platelets, a form of cell, form blood clots and release growth factors into the wound. The more growth factors released into the wound, the greater the assistance as the body repairs itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue.
The Advantages of PRF
- Safety – PRF is made from a small amount of your own blood, so there is no risk of transmission of disease. We use an IV to draw your blood, and it is ready to be used within 15 minutes.
- Convenience – PRF is made while you are undergoing outpatient surgery so it requires no extra time.
- Tissue Regeneration – Quick healing is the result of growth factors and increased tissue synthesis.
- Affordability – New technology allows us to harvest and produce the necessary quantity of platelets by drawing only 55 cc of blood in our office.
- Ease – Our doctors find PRF easy to use as it combines with grafting materials and eases the application process.
The Physical Benefits of PRF Grafting
- Accelerates the body’s natural healing process
- Contains zero additives
- Reduces the risk of allergy and side effects
- Produces excellent bone and tissue quality
At Oral Surgery Michiana, we take pride in using the best technology and techniques available to optimize your treatment plans. We customize your care by using PRF grafting for a variety of procedures. For more information about how PRF might benefit you, contact our office today or request a request consultation!
