Dental Technology
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
One of the most recent developments in periodontics is the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to enhance soft and hard tissue healing and maturation after surgical procedures. The delivery of growth factors from PRP directly into the grafted region significantly enhances the replacement and restoration for the grafted tissue. Until recently, PRP 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 to produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology permits the doctor to harvest and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from only 20 cc of blood drawn from the patient just prior to surgery.
What is PRP?
PRP is an otherwise normal blood clot that contains a highly concentrated number of platelets. Because it is from the patient's own blood, it is free of transmissible disease and cannot cause hypersensitivity reaction. 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 cell types to the wound in order to initiate healing. One of those cell types is platelets. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. These GF (platelet derived growth factor, transforming growth factor beta, and insulin-like growth factor) 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.
Advantages to using PRP:
- Rapid healing
- Growth factors released to enhance wound healing and increase bone density
- Safe - autologous (self) source
- Decreases swelling
- Earlier stability of grafts
We have utilized this technology and seen its tremendous benefits for our patients since 2002. To get more information on PRP go to: www.harvesttech.com, or ask Dr. Gouldin or one of our staff members.