Platelet Rich in Growth Factors or PRGF is a by-product of blood that is exceptionally rich in platelets. PRGF has long been used in hospitals to accelerate the body’s own healing process, but it is only fairly recently that advances in technology have allowed this same technique to be used in the periodontal office.

The blood platelets perform several essential functions in the body, including blood clot formation and the release of growth factors that help to heal wounds. These growth factors stimulate the stem cells to produce new host tissue as quickly as possible, which is why platelet rich plasma is so effective in the post-treatment healing process.

There are several ways in which PRGF can be used in clinical dentistry:

Bone Grafting For Implants – This includes repair of jaw ridge deformities, sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, and both inlay and onlay grafts.

Bone Repair – PRGF can be used in facial trauma reconstruction, repairing of defects due to tooth removal, or the removal of growths and cysts.

Soft Tissue Grafting – This includes connective tissue grafts and allografts to cover exposed roots.

Reasons for platelet rich in growth factors treatment

PRGF application is now widely used to expedite the post-procedure healing process and is completely safe. Since the blood used will come from the patient’s own body, disease transmission is not a factor. Almost all patients report a much greater degree of comfort immediately after their procedure. There are also several more distinct advantages of PRGF:

• Lower Infection Risk – PRGF is smeared thickly on the wound after the procedure by the dentist and actually seals the wound away from infectious agents, lowering the risk of problems.
• Accelerated Healing – The saturation of the wound with PRGF helps increase tissue synthesis due to its growth factors, and this in turn results in faster tissue regeneration. Speedier healing decreases the risk of later infections, complications, and discomfort.
• Safety and Convenience – Disease transmission is non-issue since the blood is harvested from the patient’s own blood supply. The amount of blood needed is small and can be collected during a routine outpatient procedure.

What does platelet rich plasma treatment involve?

Dr. Segal will initially assess if you are a candidate for PRGF treatment. Patients with blood clotting disorders will be unable to take advantage of this treatment. A small (about 2 to 4 oz) sample of your blood will be collected at the beginning of the treatment. The blood will be placed into a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. A series of pipettes are used to extract the growth factors..

Immediately after suturing the wound, Dr. Segal will apply the PRGF to the surgical area in a high concentration. This will expedite your healing and decrease the amount of discomfort following the surgery. The dentist will provide aftercare instructions pertaining to the surgery and a prescription for pain medication as required.

If you have any questions about treatment with platelet rich in growth factors or would like to find out if you are a candidate and can benefit from this treatment, please contact our office today to schedule an appointment.