The effects of platelet-rich fibrin on post-surgical complications following removal of impacted wisdom teeth: A pilot study

Abstract

Objectives: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix composed of cells, cytokines, and growth factors, which may be liberated from blood at specific times and act as a resorbable membrane. Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of PRF for bone healing in oral and maxillofacial implant surgery. Our study assesses the impact of PRF on postoperative complications following the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth.

Methods: Twenty patients were recruited in this blind controlled randomised clinical trial, i.e. ten patients in the study group and ten patients in the control group. The patients were aged between 18 and 40 years. Surgical removal of impacted teeth #38 and #48 was performed in all the patients. The study group underwent dentoalveolar surgery with the use of PRF, while the control group underwent surgery without PRF.

Results: All patients in the study group reported significantly less postoperative pain (p = 0.02) and excellent soft tissue healing during the follow-up period (p = 0.021). In contrast, only 80% of patients in the control group exhibited sufficient soft tissue healing. The difference in postoperative swelling between the two groups was not statistically significant. Additionally, 69% of patients in the study group reported comfortable night sleep during the first 24 h after the operation compared to 31% in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Based on the outcomes of our study, implanting PRF into surgical extraction sites can be helpful in reducing postoperative pain and improving soft tissue healing. The use of PRF in extraction sockets is simple and biologically safe. The beneficial effects of PRF support its possible application in the field of dental surgery.

Keywords: Alveolar ostitis; Dental pain; Dentoalveolar surgery; Impacted teeth; Platelet rich fibrin; Tooth extraction.