Platelet rich plasma(PRP) is a treatment used to stimulate the healing of bone and soft tissue. A small amount of the patient’s own blood is drawn from the patient’s arm. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge that spins the blood and removes the unwanted components of blood that are not primarily responsible for healing. The remaining super concentrated platelets rich is healing properties called growth factors. This platelet rich plasma is injected into the surgery site, accelerating the clot formation process and enhancing the bodys natural healing activities. In fact, PRP has been shown to accelerate the healing process by two to three times the normal healing rate. By doing this, PRP also helps reduce scar formation. This treatment is particularly useful for bone graft procedures that take a long time to heal.
PRP finds use in cosmetic periodontal surgery as well as reconstruction and restoration of dental implants. PRP usually contains at least seven different growth factors. PDGF and epidermal growth factor(EGF) are two important growth factors.