Platelet Rich in Growth Factors
Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) is exactly what the name suggests. The substance is a by-product of blood (plasma) that is rich in growth factors. Until now, its use has been confined to the hospital setting. This was due mainly to the cost of separating the platelet cells from the blood (thousands of cells) and the large amount of blood needed (one unit) to produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology in place in our office permits the doctor to produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from only 40 cc of blood drawn from the patient while they are having outpatient surgery.
Why All the Excitement About PRGF?
PRGF permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the wound in order to initiate the healing process. One of those cell types are platelets. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. These GF (platelet derived growth factors PGDF, transforming growth factor beta TGF, and insulin-like growth factor ILGF) function to assist the body in repairing itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The more growth factors released into the wound, the more stem cells are stimulated to produce new host tissue. Thus, one can easily see that PRGF permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.
A subfamily of TGF, is bone morphogenic protein (BMP). BMP has been shown to induce the formation of new bone in research studies in animals and humans. This is of great significance to the surgeon who places dental implants. By adding PRGF, and thus BMP, to the implant site with bone substitute particles, the implant surgeon can now grow bone more predictably and faster than ever before.
PRGF Has Many Clinical Applications
- Bone grafting for dental implants. This includes onlay and inlay grafts, sinus lift procedures, ridge augmentation procedures, and closure of cleft, lip, and palate defects.
- Repair of bone defects creating by removal of teeth or small cysts.
- Repair of fistulas between the sinus cavity and mouth.
PRGF Also Has Many Advantages
Safety: PRGF is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.
Convenience: PRGF can be generated in our office while you are undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure, such as placement of dental implants and bone or soft tissue grafting.
Faster healing: The supersaturation of the wound with PRGF, and thus growth factors, produces an increase of tissue synthesis and thus faster tissue regeneration.
Cost effectiveness: Since PRGF harvesting is done with only 40 cc of blood in our office, the patient need not incur the expense of the procedure in the hospital or at the blood bank.
Ease of use: PRGF is easy to handle and actually improves the ease of application of bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.