Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is revolutionizing bone grafting technique used in dental implants and ridge restoration. Platelets are tiny cells that aid in the formation of blood clots. Platelets also contain a large reservoir of natural growth factors which promote healing. The technique of PRP can exceed by ten times the number of these cells which are used to promote the normal natural growth factors used in healing.
Until now, its use has been confined to the hospital setting. This was due mainly to the cost of separating the platelets from the blood and the large amount of blood needed produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology permits Dr. Iranmanesh to harvest and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from the patients during their in office treatment. These harvested platelets can then be used to release their natural growth factors thereby improving bone and soft tissue healing.
Why all the excitement about PRP?
Platelet rich plasma is a medical and dental discovery which has opened new doors to using the natural healing factors of the body to aid recovery of wounds, scar tissue and has accelerated bone/tissue growth in desired areas at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the wound in order to initiate the healing process. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. PRP will function to assist the body in repairing itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The more growth factors released into the wound, the more stem cells stimulated to produce new host tissue. Thus, one can easily see that PRP permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.
PRP also has many advantages.
- Safety: PRP is a by-product of the patient's own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.
- Convenience: PRP can be generated in our office while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure, such as placement of dental implants or at the time of bone grafting.
- Faster healing: The supersaturation of the wound with PRP, and thus growth factors, produces an increase of tissue synthesis and thus faster tissue regeneration.
- Cost effectiveness: Since PRP harvesting is done with only 20 cc of blood in the doctor’s office (roughly 1 oz.), the patient need not incur the expense of the harvesting procedure in hospital or at the blood bank.
- Ease of use: PRP is easy to handle and actually improves the ease of application of bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.
Frequently asked questions about PRP
- Is PRP safe?
Yes. During the outpatient surgical procedure a small amount of your own blood is drawn. This blood is then placed in a specialized PRP centrifuge machine and spun down. In less than fifteen minutes, the PRP is formed and ready to use.
- Should PRP be used in all bone-grafting cases?
Not always. In some cases, there is no need for PRP. However, in the majority of cases application of PRP to the graft will increase the final amount of bone present in addition to making the wound heal faster and more efficiently.
- How does the separation process work?
At Diablo Oral Surgery and Implant Center we utilize one of the state-of-the-art separators called the Harvest Technologies: SmartPREP2 separator system. This machine separates out the platelets and allows Dr. Iranmanesh to use the natural growth factors contained within them to augment, improve, and hasten recovery from surgery The SmartPRep2 is the latest available system and used to improve the quality and quantity of platelets isolated from bloodl.
- Can PRP be used alone to stimulate bone formation?
No. PRP must be mixed with either the patient’s own bone, a bone substitute material such as demineralized freeze-dried bone, or a synthetic bone product.
- Are there any contraindications to PRP?
Very few. Patients with severe bleeding disorders or hematologic diseases do not qualify for this in-office procedure. Check with your surgeon and/or primary care physician to determine if PRP is right for you.
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