Leukocyte and Platelet Rich Fibrin
Lewiston, ID
 People who are considering intensive oral surgery may have heard of infusions of leukocytes and platelet-rich fibrin, but they may not know how an infusion can help them during and especially after the procedure. Here is an explanation from our dentists at Oral & Facial Surgery about why leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin may be helpful for oral surgery.
About Blood Components
You may not know this, but your blood contains several components that help your body heal after trauma or surgery. Red blood cells transfer oxygen to the rest of your cells throughout your body.
White blood cells are also called leukocytes. They help your body fight infections, viruses, and bacteria by rushing to defend your body. You may notice those white blood cells when you have an infected cut because they rise to the surface of the cut.
Two other blood components are particularly important to the healing process of your body. Plasma is the liquid component of your blood. It allows your blood to travel easily through your circulatory system. Plasma helps your body move nutrients around, remove waste products, fight infection, and heal.
Platelets are one method your body uses to heal itself. They are large, irregularly shaped cells that rush to stop the flow of blood when you are injured. Platelets contain large fibers that act as a natural bandage to stop blood flow. These fibers weave together to create a plug to cover the wound as well.
What Do Blood Components Have to Do With Dental Surgery?
A lot of dental procedures are quite simple and require very little healing time. For example, many adults can have a dental filling and be completely fine after the numbing treatments wear off. Many adults even feel better after a root canal procedure because it relieves the pain of an infected tooth.
However, there are dental procedures that require significant healing time. If you suffer tooth loss due to tooth decay or periodontal disease, you may need dental implants. People with advanced gum disease may also suffer from bone loss and bone deterioration due to infection. Once gum disease is being treated, they can be evaluated for dental implants. If you have bone damage, you may need to have new bone grafted to your jawbone so your dental implants can be supported. Adults who get bone grafts before dental implant surgery are far more likely not to have dental implant failures.
If you are ready to have dental implant surgery or bone grafts, you will need to heal as quickly as possible with as little risk of infection as possible. That is where leukocytes and platelets come in handy for the process.
How Do Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Work?
Leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin have a unique method of helping your body heal itself. For major dental surgery involving bone grafts, oral surgeons want to make sure your body heals as quickly as possible and allow new bone to grow. Using leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin keeps the likelihood of infection down and also promotes healing.
The process for using leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin is quite simple. Rather than using donated blood products, oral surgeons use a sample of your own blood to grow a gel cellular membrane that acts like a bandage. Usually, you will have to donate a sample of your blood ahead of time so the oral surgeon can prepare your membrane bandage for surgery.
If the oral surgeon is using leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin membranes to support your bone grafts, they will first make an incision along your gumline and place the bone grafts so they can begin to strengthen your jawbone. Once the bone grafts are secure, the surgeon will then place the membrane with the leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin over them. The membrane with the leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin solution will dissolve over time - usually anywhere from ten days to 28 days after surgery. While the membrane is in place, it allows your body to heal more quickly and allows new bone to grow more rapidly.
What Are the Advantages of Using Leukocyte and Platelet Rich Fibrin?
Both the American Medical Association and Dental Association are in favor of surgeons using leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin for a variety of purposes. Surgeons have been using injections of platelet-rich fibrin, plasma, and leukocytes for decades. During World War I, surgeons on the battlefield began using plasma to treat massive wounds and shock. Plasma lasted longer than whole blood products and was easier to transport, which made it great for trauma support all over the world.
Not only is blood plasma great for trauma, but it was not long before doctors, surgeons, and dentists discovered that using leukocytes and platelet-rich fibrin can help wounds heal faster and reduce the chances of infection. Some doctors use injections of leukocytes and platelets, but for oral surgeons, a membrane containing leukocytes and platelet-rich fibrin works amazingly well.
There are other advantages for oral surgeons who use membrane therapy. Patients who have oral surgery are always at risk for infection, and using leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin helps decrease the chances of infection, as well as work to promote the natural healing processes of the body. These membrane patches help reduce your chances of pain and inflammation as well. Also, membranes are cost-effective because they use the resources of your own body to heal itself. Since the oral surgeon is using your own blood, it is very safe. The Food and Drug Administration has cleared membranes containing leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin for patient use as injections as well as in membranes during oral surgery.
Using Leukocytes and Platelet-Rich Fibrin
If you need to have implant surgery or bone grafts done by an oral surgeon, it would be a great idea to ask about the opportunity to use leukocytes and platelet-rich fibrin in your procedures. Not sure whether our office uses membranes as part of the surgical process? You should make an appointment for a surgical consultation. Why not give Oral & Facial Surgery a call at (509) 872-4294 to set up an appointment for a consultation if you need dental implants to restore your smile? Reach out to us today.
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