Our Practice’s Experience Using PRF
Dr. Carmen Burke discusses Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and how she implements this healing technology in her Boulder CO, dental clinic.
The Use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) in Our Dental Practice.
Blood, taken in our practice, after being run through a PRF Centrifuge.
We are a big fan of using PRF technology in dentistry. At Family Holistic Dentistry, we're equipped with a PRF centrifuge. The output is a membrane or plug from the patient's blood. We obtain this plug by drawing four vials of blood and placing them in our centrifuge. This method separates beneficial components like interleukins and growth factors crucial for pain management, tissue growth, and infection-fighting. It is excellent for growing gums and bone. It has platelets to stop bleeding and cells to fight infection. It's from the patient's blood; nothing is added, so it is safe and impacts healing positively. Our patients like it and say that the pain after surgery is minimal, and the healing is surprisingly quick. A lot of times, they compare one extraction that they have had in the past with the one that we do in our clinic, and they have a good experience and refer more patients to us.
Incorporation of PRF in our Deep Cleaning Process
We use PRF when we do our deep cleanings. We draw the patient's blood, centrifuge it, and place the membrane into deep pockets in the gum to promote healing. We have anecdotally liked the results.
Incorporation of PRF into our Extraction and Ceramic Implant Processes
PRF is a vital part of our protocol for placing a ceramic implant immediately after tooth extraction. We first draw the patient's blood and place it in our PRF centrifuge. The tooth is extracted using piezo surgery to help maintain the septum and bone. The periodontal ligament is removed, and ozone and laser are used to clean and disinfect the socket. Finally, the PRF membrane is placed. Usually, bone grafting is unnecessary, but if it is, we use synthetic Beta-tricalcium-Phosphate (meta-analysis). Allograft (human cadaver) and Xenograft(animal cadaver) are never used in our practice. I have done over a thousand extractions in Colombia, California, and Colorado. I started using PRF in 2017 when I bought my first centrifuge after taking a course with Dr. Phill Mollica and Dr. Bob Harris, and the patient's healing time and comfort dramatically improved using it in conjunction with ozone and laser.