PRF Bone Grafting: PRF, Sticky Bone, and Ridge Preservation
The jawbone supports a dental implant, so it has to be solid and healthy in order for the replacement tooth to withstand chewing forces.
If the bone around the replacement tooth is insufficient, bone grafting may be necessary. Bone grafting involves multiple steps that can span several months.
A piece of bone is usually taken from another body part and then moved to the site. But there are now several alternatives that are as effective.
Here at Wing Dental Centre in Peace River, Alberta, we use Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) in bone grafting for implant procedures.
What is Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) Therapy?
PRF is a byproduct of platelet-rich blood. It’s also rich in growth factors that enable cells to communicate with each other.
PRF therapy is used in hospitals to speed up the body’s healing and recovery process. In dentistry, it’s commonly used in bone grafting procedures to enhance bone and soft tissue regeneration and reduce post-surgical bleeding. The dentist takes a small sample of your blood and spins it in a centrifuge machine which separates the platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. All cells that contain growth factors are concentrated, and the plasma is reintroduced at the surgical site to promote healing.
Advantages of using PRF in bone grafts
PRF therapy is safe, effective, and 100% natural as it’s derived from the patient’s blood.
Here are more advantages of using PRF in bone grafting for implants.
- Reduces health risk. Since PRF derives from your own blood, it lowers the risk of infection and disease, allergic reactions, and rejection.
- Convenient. Drawing blood is fast and convenient. PRF therapy is an outpatient procedure, so you don’t need to visit the hospital for the procedure and you won’t stay long at the dental office.
- Accelerates healing. Since PRF is rich in growth factors, tissue regenerates faster. It reduces discomfort and complication risks.
- Minimally invasive. PRF is minimally invasive and can be performed even for elders. Apart from bone grafts for implants, its application also includes onlays, inlays, and cleft lip and palate.
What are the steps involved in PRF Bone Grafting?
During dental surgery, your dentist exposes and cleans the jawbone. After surgery the PRF is applied to the surgical site. It reduces the chance of bacterial infection, increases surgical success rates, and minimizes any post-surgical discomfort.
What is a sticky bone?
A sticky bone is a stable bone graft material made of PRF and injectable PRF. It’s rich in growth factors and is used to rebuild inadequate bone structures.
Injectable PRF is PRF in liquid form. It’s also high in growth factors and stem cells that speed up regeneration and healing. Combined with PRF, it makes a safe and effective bone grafting tool.
Ridge preservation following tooth extraction
The bone can begin to shrink immediately after a tooth removal procedure. It happens naturally, but it may affect an implant procedure.
To prevent further bone degeneration, you may consider ridge augmentation or preservation. This procedure has to be performed as soon as possible after tooth extraction.
During a ridge augmentation procedure, bone grafts are applied at the bone ridge. The alveolar bone, which secures the tooth, can collapse once the tooth is gone.
To keep this from happening, the socket is filled with bone graft material. The bone graft won’t last forever, though, so it helps to look into long-term bone preservation through dental implant placement. Here at Wing Dental Center, we use advanced technology to provide you with quality dental care services. Contact us today at