How PRGFs Help Recovery after Oral Surgery

Those who are familiar with PRGFs, or plasma-rich growth factors, may be aware of their role in modern surgery. Known for regenerative abilities, plasma-rich growth factors are used to help accelerate the body
s ability to heal itself after a surgical procedure.

However, you may not know that these blood by-products are being used in oral surgery as well, in conjunction with procedures like bone grafting for implants and repairing structures in the mouth like bone defects and fistulas that lie between the mouth and sinus cavity.

What Are PRGFs?

PRGFs, or plasma-rich growth factors, are a by-product of our blood that has a high concentration of blood platelets. In their daily role, platelets play important roles such as helping form blood clots and speeding up the process of healing wounds.

This is done through the release of growth factors, which act like the stem cells of the wounded area and help the body to quickly create new host tissue to expedite the healing of the wound. For this reason, PRGFs are an ideal addition to the oral surgery healing process.

Benefits of PRGF Treatment

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of PRGF treatment is the combination of effectiveness and safety. Unlike some surgical techniques, plasma-rich growth factor treatment has been met with very little criticism. The use of PRGFs helps to prevent infection, as they work to more quickly seal the wound.

The growth factors speed up tissue growth, which translates to faster and more comfortable healing times after the oral procedure. Additionally, there
s no risk of disease transmission because the PRGFs are extracted from the patient
s own blood.

PRGF Treatment Process

Plasma-rich growth factor treatment is an impressive development. The process first begins with an assessment from the periodontist or oral surgeon. Those who have blood clotting disorders are unfortunately not able to participate in treatment. In a scheduled outpatient appointment, a roughly 2 ounce sample of the patient
s blood will be collected.

The blood is placed into a special machine called a centrifuge, which uses a rapid spinning motion to separate the blood
s plasma from the red blood cells. After this process, a second centrifuge is used to harvest platelets with a high concentration of growth factors. This PGRF is then preserved until surgery, and applied to the treatment area immediately after the periodontist stitches the area closed.

To learn more about PRGF treatment and if you
re a candidate for this treatment after your oral surgery, contact us today for a consultation.