Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a by-product of blood, or plasma, that is rich in platelets. PRP permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells, including platelets, to the wound in order to initiate healing. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors into the wound. The more growth factors released into the wound, the more stem cells stimulated to produce new host tissue, which permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.
New technology permits the doctor to collect and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from blood drawn from the patient while they are having outpatient surgery.
Clinical Applications of PRP:
- Bone grafting for dental implants
- Closure of cleft lip and palate defects
- Repair of bone defects created by removal of teeth or cysts
- Repair of fistulas between the sinus cavity and mouth
Advantages of PRP
- Safety: PRP is a by-product of the patients own blood, therefore disease transmission is not an issue.
- Convenience: PRP can be generated in the doctors office while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure.
- Faster Healing: The super-saturation of the wound with PRP produces an increase of tissue synthesis and faster tissue regeneration.
- Cost Effectiveness: Since PRP is done in the doctors office, the patient need not incur the expense of harvesting in a hospital or at the blood bank.
- Ease of Use: PRP is easy to handle and improves the ease of application of bone substitute and bone grafting materials.