What is Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)?
PRF is a concentrated blood product that promotes growth and healing. It is a relatively simple procedure, where we collect a small amount of blood and spin it in a centrifuge. Platelets are a type of cell that not only help form blood clots, but also contain many growth factors that are responsible for healing. Using a centrifuge, the heavier platelet cells collect on one side of the tube, making them simple to collect and apply to the desired area for optimal healing benefits.
How is PRF used with Extractions and Wisdom Tooth Removal?
PRF behaves as a ready-made clot that is directly inserted into an extraction site, including wisdom teeth or any other tooth in the mouth. By delivering a pre-formed clot with elevated levels of growth factors, PRF hastens the healing process. Research has demonstrated enhanced bone formation, accelerated coverage of the socket with gum tissue, and reduced occurrences of dry socket when PRF is employed.
What other uses of PRF are there?
PRF finds numerous applications in dentistry, medicine, and facial aesthetics. In dental procedures, PRF is frequently utilized in conjunction with bone grafting. Combining PRF with bone grafting material enhances the graft’s cohesion and boosts the number of healing cells present, ultimately improving bone quality. In the medical field, PRF is often placed over ulcers and other wounds to accelerate the healing process.
Additionally, PRF is employed in facial aesthetics, notably in the infamous “vampire facial” popularized by Kim Kardashian (her procedure actually used PRP – platelet rich plasma). Microneedling is utilized to push PRF into the skin, which promotes collagen production and introduces growth factors to the treated area, yielding exceptional results.
What is the difference between PRP and PRF?
PRP and PRF are two distinct techniques that generate concentrated blood products, but they differ in the way they are processed. PRP involves adding anticoagulant agents to blood, resulting in a liquid product that can be injected into the target site. In contrast, PRF produces a clot, with the speed of clot formation varying depending on the intended application. PRF can be transformed into a liquid or gel without requiring any additional additives, rendering it a more natural product. This attribute provides PRF with greater versatility, and its clotted form permits a more sustained release of healing factors, lasting from days to months.
Who is eligible for PRF?
Patients who do not have blood disorders or are not taking blood thinners (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.).
How much does PRF cost?
At South Austin Oral Surgery, we want to make this decision easy for you. If you are getting your wisdom teeth extracted with IV sedation, we will include PRF for the two bottom wisdom teeth for free (provided we can collect high quality blood). For all other cases, clots are $50 each with a minimum of two clots.
How can our office provide this service at such a low cost when other offices charge over $200 per clot? The simple answer is that Dr. Raju has become efficient at it and wants to maximize the healing of his patients.