Considerations of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Use in Oral Surgery

Nowadays, tooth extraction has become a frequently performed surgical procedure whose most common postoperative outcome is alveolar bone atrophy. To reduce the bone dimensional changes, localized alveolar ridge augmentation or socket preservation with bone grafting is required. The socket may be filled with synthetic grafts, xenografts, autografts, allografts, autologous platelet concentrate. The use of platelet concentrates for healing improvement and regeneration of the soft and hard tissues in oral cavity is one of the latest achievements in dentistry. One of the newest practices in bone augmentation is the use of platelet rich fibrin, derived from the patient’s own blood and can be very easily accepted by patients due to cost effectiveness, low donor morbidity and low rate of postoperative complications or infection. This biomaterial might be a solution for patients that have strong beliefs regarding the use of allografts or xenografts, or which are afraid of complications during or after autografting procedure. One cannot say that there is an ideal grafting material and must consider a person’s religious affiliation or beliefs when performing bone augmentation.