While all patients are concerned about pain after tooth removal, our patients are reporting less pain after extractions with a new procedure!
What is it? Leukocyte and platelet rich fibrin (L-PRF) is a collection of the important cells involved in your body’s natural healing process. During the normal healing process after a tooth is extracted, your immune system sends important cells and growth factors to the site. These include white blood cells and platelets. During the normal healing process, these cells are recruited but bring along inflammation, swelling, and pain- usually in the first three days after the surgery. By utilizing L-PRF, we are depositing these important cells and growth factors into the site immediately, which helps avoid much of the swelling, inflammation, and pain that would otherwise occur- especially during the first three days of healing. Studies show that the growth factors released by L-PRF also promote osteogenesis, or bone formation, which can be useful for future tooth replacement if an implant is indicated and desired.
How is it made? L-PRF is made from a sample of the patient’s own blood. The blood is drawn on the day of treatment and then spun in our centrifuge so that these rich healing factors can be gathered and placed directly into the extraction socket. No additional ingredients are required- these powerful healing cells are present in the patient’s own body!
This simple procedure leads to faster healing time and less risk of infection. Importantly for the patient, it also results in less pain and a lower risk of dry socket. L-PRF is especially helpful in individuals with health conditions such as diabetes that place them at higher risk of post-operative infection. Also, L-PRF even aids with the clotting needed for healing which can be helpful for those patients on blood thinners.
Is L-PRF a new procedure? Several versions of L-PRF, such as platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet rich growth factor (PRGF) have been available for over 40 years. Platelet rich fibrin was introduced twenty years ago, but recent techniques have streamlined this process, making it more predictable and improving clinical outcomes. These platelet concentrates benefit healing so much that they are widely used in a variety of regenerative medicine techniques, including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, and dermatology.
