Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma is a product of blood (plasma) that is rich in platelets (promotes blood clotting). Until now its use has been confined to the hospital setting. This was due mainly to the cost of separating the platelets from the blood and the large amount of blood needed to produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology permits the doctor to harvest and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from less than 1 ounce of blood drawn from the patient while having outpatient surgery.

Why all the excitement about PRP? PRP permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at an 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 is platelets. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of blood clot and release of growth factors into the wound. These growth factors function to assist the body in repairing itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The more growth factors released/sequestered into the wound, the more stem cells stimulated to produce new host tissue. Thus, the PRP permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.

For the surgeon placing dental implants, placing PRP is of great significance. By adding PRP to the implant and sinus lift site with bone substitute particles, the implant surgeon can now grow bone more predictably and faster than ever before.

Safety - PRP is a product of the patient's own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.

Convenience - PRP can be generated in our office while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure, such as placement of dental implants and sinus augmentation.

Cost Effectiveness - Since PRP harvesting is done with less than 1 ounce of blood in our office, the patient need not incur the expense of the harvesting procedure in the hospital or blood bank.