Unlocking the Power of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Dentistry
PRF is transforming dental surgery with its ability to accelerate healing, fight infection, and enhance tissue regeneration — all using the patient’s own blood. Cost-effective, minimally invasive, and versatile, PRF is quickly becoming an essential tool for modern regenerative dentistry.
As dentistry continues to embrace biologically driven treatments, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) stands out as a game-changing biomaterial that harnesses the body’s own healing potential. PRF offers a wide array of benefits in the practice of dentistry, including but not limited to:
- PRF’s natural biological structure includes PDGF, TGF-b, and VEGF which accelerate wound healing, support the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), and stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts and fibroblasts.1
- The fibrin matrix of PRF enhances tissue regeneration by providing a natural scaffold that supports cell migration and proliferation.1
- Recent studies have shown that PRF has inherent antimicrobial properties that reduce post-operative infections.2
- The use of PRF is a minimally invasive procedure utilizing the patient’s blood, thus eliminating the risk of allergic reactions and disease transmission.3
- The preparation of PRF is straight forward with appropriate training, minimal cost to both the practitioner and patient, and versatile in its dental applications.
- As an alternative to using costly biomaterial for regeneration, PRF utilizes a patient’s own autologous nature.
Despite being relatively unfamiliar to many clinicians, the accumulated evidence over the years supports PRF’s effectiveness in enhancing tissue regeneration. PRF is a valuable addition to the dental regenerative toolbox. PRF combined with regenerative therapy has shown significant promise for periodontal repair of intrabony and furcation defects, as well as soft tissue root coverage for gingival recessions.
Additionally, literature suggests that PRF can reduce infection post-tooth extraction and potentially minimize dimensional changes following tooth loss. The versatility of PRF in clinical applications is evident in its use for various bone grafting procedures, including socket preservation, ridge augmentation, and sinus lifts. Studies have shown that PRF not only enhances the integration of graft materials but also stabilizes them, ensuring better retention and effectiveness. However, more research is needed to determine its efficacy in bone defect regeneration, including guided bone regenerative procedures and sinus elevation. Despite this, its ease of use, low cost, and autologous nature make it a valuable biomaterial for further exploration in dental surgery.
References
- Strauss FJ, Nasirzade J, Kargarpoor Z, Stähli A, Gruber R. Effect of platelet-rich fibrin on cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, inflammation, and osteoclastogenesis: a systematic review of in vitro studies. Clin Oral Investig. 2020;24:569-584.
- Moraschini V, Miron RJ, Mourão CFAB, et al. Antimicrobial effect of platelet-rich fibrin: A systematic review of in vitro evidence-based studies. Periodontol 2000. 2024;94:131-142.
- Berton F, Costantinides F, Stacchi C, Corradini A, Di Lenarda A, Di Lenarda R. Is LPRF an effective hemostatic agent in single tooth extractions? A cohort study on VKA and DOAC patients. Clin Oral Investig. 2023;27:2865-2874.
This originally appeared in Luan KW, Narvekar A. Unlocking the regenerative power of platelet-rich fibrin. Decisions in Dentistry. 2025;11(2):40-45.
