Use of platelet-rich fibrin for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the treatment outcomes of periodontal intrabony defects by using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with other commonly utilized modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The eligibility criteria comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes of PRF with that of other modalities. Studies were classified into 10 categories as follows: (1) open flap debridement (OFD) alone versus OFD/PRF; (2) OFD/bone graft (OFD/BG) versus OFD/PRF; (3) OFD/BG versus OFD/BG/PRF; (4-6) OFD/barrier membrane (BM), OFD/PRP, or OFD/enamel matrix derivative (EMD) versus OFD/PRF; (7) OFD/EMD versus OFD/EMD/PRF; (8-10) OFD/PRF versus OFD/PRF/metformin, OFD/PRF/bisphosphonates, or OFD/PRF/statins. Weighted means and forest plots were calculated for probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic bone fill (RBF). RESULTS: From 551 articles identified, 27 RCTs were included. The use of OFD/PRF statistically significantly reduced PD and improved CAL and RBF when compared to OFD. No clinically significant differences were reported when OFD/BG was compared to OFD/PRF. The addition of PRF to OFD/BG led to significant improvements in CAL and RBF. No differences were reported between any of the following groups (OFD/BM, OFD/PRP, and OFD/EMD) when compared to OFD/PRF. No improvements were also reported when PRF was added to OFD/EMD. The addition of all three of the following biomolecules (metformin, bisphosphonates, and statins) to OFD/PRF led to statistically significant improvements of PD, CAL, and RBF. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PRF significantly improved clinical outcomes in intrabony defects when compared to OFD alone with similar levels being observed between OFD/BG and OFD/PRF. Future research geared toward better understanding potential ways to enhance the regenerative properties of PRF with various small biomolecules may prove valuable for future clinical applications. Future research investigating PRF at histological level is also needed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of PRF in conjunction with OFD statistically significantly improved PD, CAL, and RBF values, yielding to comparable outcomes to OFD/BG. The combination of PRF with bone grafts or small biomolecules may offer certain clinical advantages, thus warranting further investigations.

Use of platelet-rich fibrin for the treatment of gingival recessions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with other commonly utilized treatment modalities for root coverage procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The eligibility criteria comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the performance of PRF with that of other modalities in the treatment of Miller class I or II (Cairo RT I) gingival recessions. Studies were classified into 5 categories as follows: (1) coronally advanced flap (CAF) alone vs CAF/PRF, (2) CAF/connective tissue graft (CAF/CTG) vs CAF/PRF, (3) CAF/enamel matrix derivative (CAF/EMD) vs CAF/PRF, (4) CAF/amnion membrane (CAF/AM) vs CAF/PRF, and (5) CAF/CTG vs CAF/CTG/PRF. Studies were evaluated for percentage of relative root coverage (rRC; primary outcome), clinical attachment level (CAL), keratinized mucosa width (KMW), and probing depth (PD) (secondary outcomes). RESULTS: From 976 articles identified, 17 RCTs were included. The use of PRF statistically significantly increased rRC and CAL compared with CAF alone. No change in KMW or reduction in PD was reported. Compared with PRF, CTG resulted in statistically significantly better KMW and RC. No statistically significant differences were reported between the CAF/PRF and CAF/EMD groups or between the CAF/PRF and CAF/AM groups for any of the investigated parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The use of CAF/PRF improved rRC and CAL compared with the use of CAF alone. While similar outcomes were observed between CAF/PRF and CAF/CTG for CAL and PD change, the latter group led to statistically significantly better outcomes in terms of rRC and KTW. In summary, the use of PRF in conjunction with CAF may represent a valid treatment modality for gingival recessions exhibiting adequate baseline KMW. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The data indicate that the use of PRF in conjunction with CAF statistically significantly improves rRC when compared with CAF alone but did not improve KMW. Therefore, in cases with limited baseline KMW, the use of CTG may be preferred over PRF.

Use of platelet-rich fibrin in regenerative dentistry: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Research across many fields of medicine now points towards the clinical advantages of combining regenerative procedures with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). This systematic review aimed to gather the extensive number of articles published to date on PRF in the dental field to better understand the clinical procedures where PRF may be utilized to enhance tissue/bone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Manuscripts were searched systematically until May 2016 and separated into the following categories: intrabony and furcation defect regeneration, extraction socket management, sinus lifting procedures, gingival recession treatment, and guided bone regeneration (GBR) including horizontal/vertical bone augmentation procedures. Only human randomized clinical trials were included for assessment. RESULTS: In total, 35 articles were selected and divided accordingly (kappa = 0.94). Overall, the use of PRF has been most investigated in periodontology for the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects and gingival recessions where the majority of studies have demonstrated favorable results in soft tissue management and repair. Little to no randomized clinical trials were found for extraction socket management although PRF has been shown to significantly decrease by tenfold dry sockets of third molars. Very little to no data was available directly investigating the effects of PRF on new bone formation in GBR, horizontal/vertical bone augmentation procedures, treatment of peri-implantitis, and sinus lifting procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Much investigation now supports the use of PRF for periodontal and soft tissue repair. Despite this, there remains a lack of well-conducted studies demonstrating convincingly the role of PRF during hard tissue bone regeneration. Future human randomized clinical studies evaluating the use of PRF on bone formation thus remain necessary. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PRF was shown to improve soft tissue generation and limit dimensional changes post-extraction, with little available data to date supporting its use in GBR.

Partial Extraction Therapy (Part 1): Applications in Full-Arch Dental Implant Therapy.

Partial extraction therapy (PET) is a set of surgical techniques that preserve a portion of the patient's own root structure to maintain blood supply derived from the periodontal ligament complex in order to maintain the periodontium and peri-implant tissues during restorative and implant therapy. PET includes the socket shield technique (SST), proximal shield technique (PrST), pontic shield technique (PtST), and root submergence technique (RST). In a traditional hybrid technique, total extraction and full-arch dental implant therapy often require significant bone reduction and palatal/lingual implant placement. In addition, postextraction preservation of the ridge architecture is a major challenge. This case series demonstrates the use of a combination of PET techniques with digital implant planning and guided implant surgery to achieve highly esthetic outcomes in full-arch implant therapy.

Partial Extraction Therapy (Part 2): Complication Management in Full-Arch Dental Implant Therapy.

Partial extraction therapy (PET) is a group of surgical techniques that preserve the periodontium and peri-implant tissues during restorative and implant therapy by conserving a portion of the patient's own root structure to maintain the blood supply, derived from the periodontal ligament complex. PET includes the socket shield technique (SST), proximal shield technique (PrST), pontic shield technique (PtST), and root submergence technique (RST). Although their clinical success and benefits have been demonstrated, several studies report possible complications. The focus of this article is to highlight management strategies for the most common complications associated with PET, including internal root fragment exposure, external root fragment exposure, and root fragment mobility.

A Digital Approach to Immediate-Load, Full-Arch Implant Dentistry: A Case Report.

Conventional approaches to full-arch implant dentistry require a verified master model created by luting together impression jigs. This process involves numerous steps and is sometimes prone to errors that require subsequent correction. A novel approach involving an extraoral scanning technique using an Imetric 4D Imaging system demonstrates an alternative for same-day delivery of printed full-arch prosthetics. Advantages include the ability to offer a same-day provisional restoration without needing to verify an analog master cast.

Implant Restorations: Establishing a Proper Emergence Profile.

The replacement of missing teeth is more complex than simply placing a dental implant and restoring it, especially when a single implant site is involved. Implants have a round cross-section, whereas natural teeth do not but instead have crestal cross-sections that vary in shape from ovoid to triangular to rectangular depending on which tooth is being replaced. When this factor is combined with the zone between the crestal bone and adjacent proximal contacts, an emergence profile presents that will govern the esthetics of the restoration. The emergence profile will also guide and maintain the soft tissue, preventing potential food accumulation areas interproximally. This article defines an emergence profile and reviews the importance of establishing it and how to develop it based on the tooth being replaced to achieve natural-appearing restorations.

Soft-Tissue Grafting Techniques Associated With Immediate Implant Placement.

Immediate implant placement often presents challenges in terms of predictably obtaining soft-tissue coverage over the implant site. While delayed implant placement offers the ability for soft tissues to grow and invade the extraction socket making their attachment around implants more predictable, immediate implant placement poses a significant risk of bacterial invasion towards the implant surface as a result of insignificant soft-tissue volume. Soft-tissue grafting techniques have often been proposed for use during immediate implant placement to augment soft-tissue deficiencies, including the use of either palatal connective tissue grafts (CTGs) or collagen-derived scaffolds. However, both of these approaches have significant drawbacks in that CTGs are harvested with high patient morbidity and collagen scaffolds remain avascular and acelluar posing a risk of infection/implant contamination. More recently, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been proposed as an economical and biological means to speed soft-tissue wound healing. In combination with immediate implant placement, PRF offers an easily procurable low-cost regenerative modality that offers an efficient way to improve soft-tissue attachment around implants. Furthermore, the supra-physiological concentration of defense-fighting leukocytes in PRF, combined with a dense fibrin meshwork, is known to prevent early bacterial contamination of implant surfaces, and the biological concentrations of autologous growth factors in PRF is known to increase tissue regeneration. This article discusses soft-tissue grafting techniques associated with immediate implant placement, presents several cases demonstrating the use of PRF in routine immediate implant placement, and further discusses the biological and economic advantages of PRF for the management of soft-tissue grafting during immediate implant placement.

Cutting-Edge Implant Rehabilitation Design and Management: A Tapered Abutment Approach.

Immediate implant placement can pose challenges surgically and, ultimately, restoratively. Yet immediate placement has become the standard when adequate bone is present to achieve primary stability and site infection is minimal. To avoid prosthetic complications and ensure the implant is encased in bone after healing, proper planning must consider that implant placement does not necessarily need to follow the trajectory of the root socket. As discussed in this article, maxillary anterior sites have potential issues related to the "triangle of bone" that are not encountered in molar sites and demand different approaches to ensure treatment success. Additionally, this article addresses decision-making on molar sites in regard to implant diameter, as well as the rationale for platform switching.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Soft Tissue Wound Healing: A Systematic Review.

The growing multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering aims at predictably regenerating, enhancing, or replacing damaged or missing tissues for a variety of conditions caused by trauma, disease, and old age. One area of research that has gained tremendous awareness in recent years is that of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), which has been utilized across a wide variety of medical fields for the regeneration of soft tissues. This systematic review gathered all the currently available in vitro, in vivo, and clinical literature utilizing PRF for soft tissue regeneration, augmentation, and/or wound healing. In total, 164 publications met the original search criteria, with a total of 48 publications meeting inclusion criteria (kappa score = 94%). These studies were divided into 7 in vitro, 11 in vivo, and 31 clinical studies. In summary, 6 out of 7 (85.7%) and 11 out of 11 (100%) of the in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively, demonstrated a statistically significant advantage for combining PRF to their regenerative therapies. Out of the remaining 31 clinical studies, a total of 8 reported the effects of PRF in a randomized clinical trial, with 5 additional studies (13 total) reporting appropriate controls. In those clinical studies, 9 out of the 13 studies (69.2%) demonstrated a statistically relevant positive outcome for the primary endpoints measured. In total, 18 studies (58% of clinical studies) reported positive wound-healing events associated with the use of PRF, despite using controls. Furthermore, 27 of the 31 clinical studies (87%) supported the use of PRF for soft tissue regeneration and wound healing for a variety of procedures in medicine and dentistry. In conclusion, the results from the present systematic review highlight the positive effects of PRF on wound healing after regenerative therapy for the management of various soft tissue defects found in medicine and dentistry.