Many oral surgeries are outpatient procedures that allow the patient to heal at home. However, there are a few post-surgical instructions your oral surgeon will recommend that must be closely followed in order to reduce or prevent the chance of post-surgical complications. Oral surgeries including dental implants, impacted teeth, wisdom removal, bone grafts, and maxillofacial procedures, however, could all benefit from a therapy called platelet-rich plasma.
Each of these oral procedures will require the patient’s gums or mouth structures to go through the wound-healing process, which starts with blood clotting at the site of the procedure. This progresses to both hard and soft tissue healing and regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has been used for decades to promote the body’s natural healing process. Today, research has proven PRP to be an effective post-surgical treatment to accelerate the healing process after oral or maxillofacial surgery.
What is Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) uses the patient’s own blood that is enriched with tiny blood clotting cells – or platelets. Platelets are the cells that help your body form clots which is necessary to stop bleeding. PRP is a highly concentrated liquid that has been separated from the patient’s red and white blood cells. Not only do platelets assist in blood clotting, but they are also a major factor in cell growth. This speeds up the healing process and can decrease post-op pain.
The process of separating plasma from other blood components is fairly simple. A team member will withdraw a small volume of blood from the patient before surgery. The blood is put in a centrifuge to separate the plasma layer, which is the liquid that will be placed in the open wound or mouth socket after surgery.
The Healing Benefits of PRP
It’s wise to choose an oral and maxillofacial surgeon trained in the clinical application of plasma-rich platelets, that recognizes the healing benefits of PRP therapy. Pain, swelling, and jaw stiffness are common post-op symptoms for patients who have undergone oral surgery, but plasma-rich platelet therapy can address these symptoms, while also promoting a faster recovery time. Since PRP stimulates the body’s natural healing process with a highly concentrated dose of therapeutic platelets, the regeneration process is kicked into high gear.
The benefits for patients who take advantages of PRP therapy may include:
- Less pain after surgery
- Mouth tissue that heals better
- Stronger bone structure after bone grafts
- Faster healing after dental implants and teeth removals
- A lower occurrence of dry socket after tooth extraction
Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Safe?
Safety is one of the main benefits of PRP treatments since the liquid is a by-product of the patient’s own blood. This eliminates any worries of disease transmission. Additionally, patients don’t have to schedule a separate office visit for the blood collection process, as PRP can be generated while the patient is undergoing their outpatient surgical procedure.
With faster healing of open wounds, the patient has a smaller window of opportunity for infections and other complications after surgery. PRP releases the growth factors in the human body responsible for the regeneration of soft and hard tissue. Faster healing allows for faster recovery times where patients can expect to be back performing regular daily activities in less time than with standard treatments for pain only.
How Do I Know If PRP is Right For Me?
While it’s common for you not to know what this procedure is upon first hearing it, the professionals at Sunrise Facial and Oral Surgery will typically assess your individual case to see if you would benefit from this in-office therapy.
Once assessing your past medical history and record, we will determine if this therapy can help you heal faster than you have with other previous oral surgeries. If you’ve heard of PFP and would like to see if it could help you heal more effectively during your next visit, don’t hesitate to give us a call and find out! Contact us today to learn more about platelet-rich plasma treatments for oral surgery needs in Brevard County!
