Platelet rich fibrin is the new talk of the town when it comes to oral surgery. With improved healing and immune support, a surgery can have quicker and better healing, with less post-op complications.
If you and your kids ever watched “The Magic School Bus,” you might remember seeing an episode where the school bus full of kids takes a dive into their sick classmate’s body. It sounds gross, but it gave our kids (and us) an inside look at the body’s healing process and how it responds when under attack from a virus, bacteria or other infection. We learned that blood is actually clear, that red blood cells give blood its color, and that platelets, the smallest cells in our bloodstream, put a stop to bleeding and heal scrapes and cuts. Platelets’ coagulation properties make them great candidates for healing on a larger scale. Dr. Joseph Choukroun, a French surgeon, first realized their contribution to patient recovery when he was performing facial surgeries. Applying this to dentistry, we can add platelet-rich fibrin back into the socket after a tooth is removed. This procedure is now recognized as an effective treatment to promote healing during dental surgery.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a byproduct of our blood, is extremely high in platelets and growth factors —the “signaling” molecules that allow communication between cells. Choukroun’s PRF centrifuge system allows us to extract blood, separate out platelets and growth factors, and add the powerhouse combination back into your body.
How does it work? First, we take a small amount of blood from you. Next, we place the tubes of blood into the PRF centrifuge machine, where it is separated out into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As we are performing a tooth extraction or other procedure, we can add the fortified blood back into the surgical site to promote healing where it’s needed. The combination of platelets and growth factors have regenerative capabilities, healing hard and soft tissue more quickly, and help you recover faster after a tooth extraction. It is a biological, biocompatible and holistic way to heal. We’re excited to offer PRF treatment at Wrigleyville Dental. If you’re interested in learning more, there are a ton of articles and videos online, or you can talk to your dentist at your next appointment.
Some resources for your review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5634795/
Facial Rejuvenation with PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin)
We are also now offering Microneedling Facials with PRF and facial rejuvenation treatment. The results are similar to botox and fillers but we use 100% PRF in a sterile glass tube, so we are only using your own blood to create this magic potion. PRF when used in facial esthetics smoothens wrinkles, increases collagen production, can reduce acne scarring and helps with skin tightening. These are just some of the ways we use PRF for its natural healing properties.