Blood spillage is a common occurrence during dental procedures. Patients can bleed from accidental nicking of the gums, tongue pinching by suction or cheek scraping. Intentional blood drawing is another practice catching on in the dentistry industry, bringing forward acronyms like PRP and PRF. So what are PRP and PRF? Below our dentist Bolton answers this and more questions as we highlight the differences between the two.
PRP and PRF in Dentistry
PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma, is an autologous concentrate of platelets suspended in minimal plasma after centrifugation. As the first generation of platelet concentrate, PRP has a more complex preparation process that is also more expensive. However, it is an effective way of speeding up healing through soft-tissue regeneration after a dental procedure.
What is PRF in Dentistry?
Platelet Rich Fibrin is also an autologous compound of stem cells, platelets, bone growth elements, white blood cells, and fibrin. The blood products constitute a natural concentrate that does not need anticoagulants or biochemical manipulation.
PRF Production
The constitute comes from the patient’s blood drawn before a major dental procedure such as bone grafting or wisdom teeth removal. The blood is centrifuged soon after its withdrawal to convert the fibrinogen into fibrin while maintaining platelets. The concept of autologous blood concentration promotes natural healing, which PRF does effectively.
PRF increases success rates after dental procedures, lowers inflammation, decreases bleeding, and reduces pain by improving soft and hard tissue regeneration. The post-treatment timeline reduces substantially with the added advantage of lower infection risk.
PRF Types
The variations below are part of the differences you can use to compare PRP vs. PRF. They began emerging after the year 2000 when PRF was first used in dental procedures and have had slight differences that do not overshadow the original concept.
L-PRF: Leukocyte and Platelet Rich Fibrin was the first form of PRF. It is a clot-like or jello-like component that is challenging to use in surgery because of its thick texture. The leukocytes reduce swelling, making the product excellent for dental extraction sites. It reduces bone loss and can revitalize pulp to eliminate the need for a root canal.
A-PRF: The second variation of Platelet Rich Plasma stands for Advanced PRF. The centrifugation process is similar to that of PRF, but it happens at a slower rate that yields more red blood cells.
I-PRF: Injectable PRF, the third generation of Platelet-Rich Fibrin, has a lighter consistency that makes it easier to use. The product has more growth elements, making it more suitable for bone grafting. I-PRF can quickly thicken because of a lack of anticoagulants in its production. The delayed application creates a clot that is still usable. The clotting ability is essential during implants – it stabilizes and immobilizes the graft, hydrating the bone and preventing the flaking of the smaller bone particles.
PRF Applications
Bone Grafts – A combination of I-PRF and L-PRF creates a substance known as sticky bone, which is perfect for bone graft procedures. The mixture enhances bone regeneration, making it invaluable for patients with severe infections. Periodontists use it to reduce the chances of infection after root canal treatments, especially where the removal sites are less likely to heal properly. Sticky bone can also increase bone volume, making it suitable for block bone grafts.
PRF also prevents unwanted soft tissue growth when bone grafts become necessary for patients with bony defects. Sometimes soft tissue from gums grows in the same place containing the bone grafts, pushing out the graft and preventing bone regeneration. Platelet-Rich Fibrins ensure the healing process happens as it should and within a shorter timeframe.
Teeth Extraction – Tooth extraction sites have higher chances of forming dry sockets or infections without Platelet-Rich Fibrins. PRF prevents such occurrences by introducing white blood cells and regenerative growth factors that enhance proper healing.
The same properties in PRF prevent jaw bone infections that are usually more problematic and longer-lasting. Bone tissues get exposed during oral surgery, which increases the possibility of infection. The situation is especially critical for patients with extensive defects, such as holes that reach the jaw bone. Therefore, extra caution is mandatory, the same as PRF therapy for better healing.
Dental Implants – Placing PRF around implants is a sure way of improving the bone structure around the implants, ensuring the best outcome in zirconia or titanium surgeries.
What is PRF vs. PRP?
Similarities
Platelet Rich Plasma and Platelet Rich Fibrin production involve extracting platelet-rich layers from blood samples to encourage faster healing. The resulting concentration undergoes a centrifugation process – spinning the blood in a centrifuge to separate the layers. The heaviest cells go to the bottom, while the lightest stay at the top. The spinning speed determines the concentration of blood components at every layer and establishes their differences.
PRP and PRF Difference
PRP concept has been around since 1997, the first of the two. However, it is no longer applicable in clinical procedures because of its shortfalls, which are the use of anticoagulants and higher production cost. Anticoagulation translates to the inability to clot after introduction into the treatment site, which reduces effectiveness. The production also requires the use of disposable blood collection kits that are costlier. There has been dispute regarding the use of anticoagulants, with some experts claiming it is only necessary during long surgeries when preservation of the derived platelet factors is necessary.
PRF came after further research on PRP to improve the downsides proved necessary. There was a need to incorporate white blood cells and stem cells into the platelets to derive a higher concentration of platelets. PRP production was also more time-consuming and intricate, which created the need for an easier option.
The similarity in production is one of the reasons the terms are sometimes interchangeable, but they have differences that stand out. One of the distinguishing factors in prf vs. prp is the speed applied during centrifugation. PRP usually involves faster spinning, resulting in heavier components of the blood settling in the lowest part of the centrifuge. Plasma and platelets remain at the top, while stem cells and white blood cells go to the bottom. Those upper components produce a gel compound used on the treatment site to promote soft-tissue regeneration.
PRF centrifugation occurs at a lower speed, causing less distinct separation of the blood components. Stem cells and white blood cells remain in the plasma layer to boost regeneration and prevent post-operative infection. The higher concentration of growth factors in PRF is released slowly onto the site over time, unlike PRP, where the release of the elements happens immediately. The former alternative has a complex fibrin network slowing down the release, which answers the question, does PRF last longer than PRP? PRF can continue working long after the surgery.
Slower spinning also prevents mechanical damage, another benefit lacking with PRP. That is why PRF has a better healing capacity. Processing the blood sample does not include anticoagulants, keeping the blood natural and creating a clot that the doctor picks from the tube. With PRP, calcium chloride or bovine thrombin activates the sample to convert the fibrinogen and generate the desirable consistency.
What are PRP and PRF Used for?
PRP and PRF are great for extraction sites, but PRP is more applicable in cases where easy coverage is necessary. The consistency of PRP also makes it suitable for hydrating bone grafts or coating implants.
As a clot product, PRF tends to be more applicable in hard and soft tissue regeneration procedures. Its ability to work as a membrane makes it ideal for socket grafting and root treatments. PRF is also effective in managing implants – there have been cases where it helped in facial surgeries. The blood concentrate can fill bony holes to prevent the growth of gum tissues into those spaces and promote faster growth of quality bone tissue because of bone morphogenic protein.
Most dental practitioners combine PRP and PRF to create a sticky one that is more effective, depending on the procedure. The two also function separately. Some doctors combine PRP with the grafting material before placing a PRF membrane on top.
So, is PRF Better than PRP?
PRF seems to stand out as the better option between the two. Faster healing, lower swelling rates, better success in bone grafting cases, higher bone quality, and speedy blood supply in extraction sockets are a few advantages of PRF over PRP.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin also takes precedence when it comes to questions like which is better, PRP or PRF on the face? Its benefits in healing and regeneration promotion make it superior, though PRP is also beneficial for long plastic surgery cases.
What Are the Advantages of PRF over PRP?
PRF was an advancement of PRP, so it makes sense that it has a few more advantages. Producing PRF is more straightforward. The blood sample remains natural due to a lack of manipulation or additives, and the concentrate contains a better healing capacity. That makes blood samples more productive in PRF, and the availability of more stem cells means less trauma.
PRF in dental practices has transformed the industry, bringing relief to patients and doctors alike. The techniques allow flexibility in oral surgeries while encouraging quality outcomes. That is an invaluable addition to all the benefits mentioned above.
Smiles on Queen can help you explore more about PRF versus PRP, comparing all the PRF variations and recommending the best one.
