Let’s Talk About The Benefits of PRP in Dentistry

How Platelet Rich Plasma Can Improve Certain Procedures

Recently, platelet rich plasma has become a very popular and innovative addition to the world of dentistry. Many patients have been asking questions about platelet rich plasma and exactly what role it plays in assisting certain dental procedures. As the name suggests, platelet rich plasma is a by-product of a patient’s blood, or plasma, that is rich in platelets.

For those unfamiliar with platelets, one of their primary functions is to heal damaged vessels and form clots to help stop our bodies from bleeding. Originally reserved to hospitals and in-patient medical treatments, PRP has now expanded into the world of dental health. A large amount of blood was once needed to successfully produce enough platelets, but thanks to advances in technology, doctors can now retrieve a sufficient amount of platelets from just 55cc of blood.

Advantages of PRP

Essentially, platelet rich plasma helps accelerate the healing process in procedures like dental implants. When you experience an injury or a break in your skin, like from surgery, your body rushes a number of cells to the damaged area to begin healing the wound. Some of these cells are platelets, and they aid in the healing process by releasing growth factors (GF) into the wounded area and stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The PRP will be applied in high concentration directly after to the area after your dentist secures the wound. Since PRP helps the body to naturally heal faster, this can make for a speedy and more comfortable recovery process for many patients.

Thanks to this innovative technology, dentists and oral surgeons can provide patients with PRP to help aid bone grafting for dental implants. PRP can also be beneficial in other forms of restorative dentistry procedures such as the closure of a cleft lip, repairing defects due to tooth removal, or removal of cysts or fistulas.

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Benefits of PRP

Incorporating PRP into your dental procedure can offer a number of benefits to patients. For example, you can be sure that PRP is safe and that no disease transmission or allergic reactions can occur, as it is a product of your own blood. Additionally, the procedure is convenient, since it can be administered in the office directly after your dentist performs an already scheduled outpatient surgical procedure, like dental implants.

The procedure only takes 55ccs of blood, so you don’t have to shell out the cost of harvesting your blood at a hospital or blood bank. Typically you can expect to spend around $400 on PRP treatment. It’s not complicated, either! PRP is actually very easy to handle and may even improve the application of some bone substitute and bone grafting materials. Keep in mind PRP may not be ideal or necessary for all bone-grafting patients, so you will have to talk to your dentist about PRP and if it is right for you. But as there are very few contraindications to platelet rich plasma, most patients can be successful candidates.

Want to Learn More?

If you are interested in learning more about dental PRP procedures or have questions about a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure, don’t hesitate to contact our Cooper City office at 954-252-1390. Our expert team offers a Free Smile Assessment for all new clients!