ESSENTIAL Naples
Health
PRF: The New Golden Child in
Regenerative Dentistry
42 WINTER 2022
By Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD
“Because of its ability to revascularize tissues and its incorporation of defense fighting immune cells, PRF has proven to be a relatively low cost, easily procurable regenerative strategy.” —Dr. Josephine Perez, DMD
P
latelet concentrates have been used in the medical and dental fields for over 20 years for their favorable wound healing capabilities. In the 1990s, the initial biomaterial was PRP (platelet-rich plasma), but PRP needed anticoagulant medications to prolong its working time. Within the past five years, PRF (platelet-rich fibrin, which contains approximately 10 times the platelet concentration that is found in the body) has come to be known as the “golden child,” not only due to better growth factor (GF) concentrates and extension of its properties from 2–4 weeks (PRP) to 4–6 months (PRF), but it is a much more natural delivery method, and no anticoagulants are needed. Today, these platelet concentrates are used worldwide in regenerative medicine because of their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties as well as their incredible wound-healing capabilities. Platelet concentrates create the opportunity to deliver many GFs simultaneously and together with platelets, leukocytes (white blood cells) serve in the natural wound-healing process. PRF is considered a second-generation platelet concentrate with a longer growth factor release
profile. It forms a 3D scaffolding or matrix that, in addition to its high concentration of beneficial leukocytes, plays a key role in tissue healing and tissue formation. The takeaway here is that even though PRP, which stays active for 2–4 weeks, has been used in almost every aspect of medicine for over 20 years and is recommended for the fast release of GFs, PRF is better suited for long-term delivery and has a greater wound-healing potential over a longer period, since it can be extended to 4–6 months. Additionally, PRF can stimulate osteogenesis (new bone formation) and angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation). In PRF, the fibrin matrix is better organized and is therefore able to more efficiently direct stem cell migration toward the healing site.
PRF in Dentistry
In dentistry, PRF has numerous implications— from preserving bone in extraction sites, repairing periodontal (gum) defects, gingival recessions, implant placements, bone regeneration, sinus grafts, healing soft tissues by joining them when even sutures won’t work, and even facial esthetics. New studies have shown that PRF
