PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma (autologous/from the same patient) is in oral surgery a great help for the acceleration of the healing process, both for soft and hard tissues.

The use of autologous PRP in oral surgery allows for:

• The acceleration of bone regeneration.
• An increase in the density of the regenerated bone.
• The acceleration of the healing process in soft tissues.
• Significant reduction in the collateral effects caused by surgical operations in terms of soft and hard tissues, oedema and post-operatory pain.

Preparation of PRP in our surgeries.
As a standard these are the phases followed:

• Drawing of blood for the vein; the amount depends on the type of treatment to be performed.
• The vials of blood are placed in specialist containers in the centrifuge where they undergo the first cycle of centrifugation. At the end of this cycle, two layers form in the vials, the lower having a red colour, consisting of erythrocytes, and the upper being of a faded yellow colour. It is this upper layer that contains the liquid plasma rich in blood platelets.
• The upper yellow layer is then separated from the lower part, made up of blood. It is then put through the centrifuge further so as to acquire a vial which has as its base a concentrated platelet plasma, while at its top is plasma poor in platelets.

The PRP is then subsequently mixed with various bone grafting materials and applied to the sites which require regrowth of the bone. It can also be inserted between the lips of a suture, functioning as a membrane.