PRF — Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Butler, PA

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that some 500,000 Americans get dental implants each year. And dental implants are just one type of dental surgical procedure that can require a lengthy recovery time.

When you’re recovering from a dental procedure, one option we offer at Brockley Dental is platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) injections. Learn about what PRF is and what it can offer. 

What Is PRF?

Platelet-rich fibrin injections are a more advanced version of platelet-rich plasma injections. PRF can help speed your recovery by stimulating your body’s natural healing response.

Your blood has four main components:

• Plasma
• White blood cells
• Red blood cells
• Platelets

Platelets contain growth factors that allow cells to communicate with one another. Fibrin is a protein that your body produces as a result of bleeding; it’s an important component of blood clots.

PRF injections stimulate healing at the cellular level. By concentrating platelets and fibrin in an injection that we apply to the treatment area, we can accelerate the healing process.

Most people who have undergone a dental procedure can benefit from PRF injections. That said, you may not be the best candidate if you have clotting issues, cancer, or other serious health conditions. 

Choosing Between PRP and PRF

Both PRP and PRF jumpstart your body’s natural healing mechanisms. PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, was the original method for doing this. It works by concentrating platelets in your blood’s plasma. PRF, meanwhile, is the new and improved option. 

PRP releases growth factors for a few hours, while PRF keeps releasing them for up to a week. A slower release can provide faster, better results.

While PRP requires a large blood sample, we can create PRF injections with just one vial. There are also no additives in PRF injections, whereas there are often anticoagulants in PRP injections that can cause allergic reactions or other issues.  

Because the centrifuge spins more slowly when creating PRF, we can preserve more platelets and white blood cells. All of these elements make the healing process faster and more effective. 

In most instances, PRF injections work much more reliably than PRP. 

Benefits of PRF

We create platelet-rich fibrin injections entirely from your own blood. You don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or other complications because we don’t add anything to the fibrin substance. 

The process for creating these injections is extremely quick. We do it in our office at the same time as your dental procedure, meaning you don’t have to make another appointment or get a referral.

The injections are minimally invasive and can help with bone-grafting procedures as well as dental implants. They can be particularly useful for installing dental implants in older patients, as they increase the chances of a successful procedure. 

We often have to expose the jawbone when performing implantations and other surgical options. Your jaw doesn’t have much access to blood compared with other tissues in your body. Without blood, the jawbone cannot heal itself and may be more prone to bacterial and fungal infections. 

By offering platelet-rich fibrin injections at the site, your jawbone receives the nutrients it needs to heal and protect itself from infection. This can be very helpful following tooth extraction, which leaves an empty socket where bacteria can easily infiltrate. The PRF can work to cover the exposed bone. 

PRF injections can also promote new bone cell growth, which is important if you’ve had a tooth extraction.

Your jawbone depends on stimulation from the roots of your teeth to continue growing. As such, it’s possible to experience bone loss following an extraction. With the platelets, growth factors, and other beneficial substances that PRF injections offer, your jawbone can remain healthy and avoid losing mass or density. 

The PRF Procedure

If you’re in need of a dental procedure and want to speed up the healing process,  contact us to arrange a consultation.

During this meeting, we’ll assess the treatment area and ask you about your medical history, as well as any medications or supplements you’re currently taking. Depending on the dental services you need, we might also take X-ray images or dental impressions. 

We always want our patients to feel comfortable asking questions or voicing their concerns, so we’ll never rush you through your consultation.

If we think you might be a good candidate for platelet-rich fibrin injections after your dental procedure, we’ll offer some tips to help you prepare.        

Before getting PRF injections, we ask that you stop taking blood thinners. This includes common over-the-counter medications and supplements like:

• Ibuprofen
• Aspirin
• Vitamin E
• St. John’s Wort
• Fish oil

With that in mind, it’s always wise to speak with your doctor before discontinuing any medications. Make sure you drink lots of water on the days before your appointment and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before you come to our office. 

On the day of your treatment, we’ll prepare you for the procedure, then take a vial of blood from your arm to produce the PRF injection. We place the vial in a centrifuge that spins and separates your blood into its constituent components.

We then take the platelet-rich fibrin from the top of the vial and inject it into the treatment area. The PRF procedure can take between 20 and 50 minutes. 

There isn’t much aftercare to worry about with PRF injections. However, you make it a point to refrain from strenuous activity, especially after dental work. You also don’t want to expose yourself to extreme temperatures, as it can make the PRF less effective.            

We recommend avoiding anti-inflammatory medications for a few more days after the procedure. By virtue of how they work, these drugs can interfere with your body’s natural healing processes.

Results from PRF injections aren’t immediate, though they start working as soon as you receive them. Some people find that PRF offers a degree of pain relief because it helps control inflammation. For others, the results can take a bit longer.

Regardless of the exact time frame, you can expect to see a significant improvement in your condition in a matter of days.

What Makes Brockley Dental Different

Brockley Dental is a family practice that offers the care you need in a patient-centric environment. Donald B. Brockley, DMD, and E. Ahono Gildersleeve, DDS, are a skilled father and daughter team with more than 30 years of experience offering services to people of all ages.

When you visit our office, you’re guaranteed to receive individualized care without being rushed or overlooked. We want to make sure you feel comfortable with the treatment options we recommend, so we always welcome your questions.

Brockley Dental doesn’t participate in conventional insurance arrangements. However, we do file reimbursement claims on behalf of our patients to help them maximize their coverage with their insurers. We also offer convenient CareCredit financing options.

When you turn to Brockley Dental, you get quality dental services from professionals who truly care.

Speed Up Healing with PRF

PRF injections can help you recover from all manner of dental procedures faster and without the risk of allergies or other complications. 

We’re proud to serve the Greater Pittsburgh and Butler, PA, areas, offering a variety of dental services for people of all ages. Contact Brockley Dental today to book your first visit.