As a periodontist committed to the absolute best outcomes for my patients, I am always looking for ways to make surgery safer, recovery faster, and results more predictable. If you have been researching dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, or gum grafting, you might have stumbled across the term PRF Dental therapy. You might be wondering, “What exactly is this, and why is Dr. Justin Raanan recommending it?”
Today, I want to take a deep dive into Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF). This is not just a buzzword; it is a revolutionary approach to healing that uses your body’s own biology to accelerate recovery. In my practice, I treat the whole patient, not just the mouth. By utilizing PRF, we are tapping into your body’s incredible natural ability to regenerate tissue and bone. Let’s explore how this technology works and why I believe it is a game-changer for dental surgery.
The Biology of Healing: Understanding PRF
To understand why I use PRF, we first need to look at how your body heals a wound. When you get a cut or have a tooth removed, your body immediately rushes to fix the area. The first responders in your blood are platelets. You might know platelets as the cells that stop bleeding, but they do so much more than that. They are packed with “growth factors.”
Think of growth factors as the construction managers of your body. They shout orders to other cells, telling them to create new skin, new blood vessels, and new bone. Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) is essentially a way for us to concentrate these construction managers right where we need them most.
PRF is a byproduct of your own blood that is rich in:
- Platelets: The cells that clot blood and release growth factors.
- Leukocytes (White Blood Cells): These are vital for fighting infection and regulating inflammation.
- Fibrin: A protein that creates a matrix or “scaffold” for the new tissue to grow on.
When we combine these elements, we get a powerful, jelly-like membrane that acts as a “super clot.” Because it comes 100% from your own body, there is zero risk of rejection or allergic reaction. It is the most natural biological dressing we can use.
How the PRF Dental Process Works in My Chair
One of the things my patients love about PRF is how simple and quick the process is. It does not require a hospital visit or complicated machinery. It happens right here in the operatory while you are getting comfortable for your procedure.
Step 1: The Blood Draw
The process starts just like a routine blood test at your doctor’s office. I draw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. We usually only need a few vials, depending on the size of the surgery we are performing.
Step 2: The Spin
I immediately place those vials into a dedicated centrifuge machine. This machine spins the blood at a very specific speed. This spinning process separates the blood components based on their density. The red blood cells move to the bottom, and the lighter components—the platelets, white blood cells, and fibrin—rise to the top.
Step 3: Creating the Membrane
After about 10 to 12 minutes of spinning, I remove the vials. What we are left with is a yellow, clot-like substance known as the PRF clot. I can then compress this clot into a flat membrane (which looks a bit like a small piece of calamari) or chop it up to mix with bone grafting material.
This membrane is then placed directly over the surgical site—whether it is an extraction socket, an implant site, or a gum recession area. It acts as a biological bandage, protecting the wound and slowly releasing those powerful growth factors over the next 7 to 10 days.
The Difference Between PRP and PRF
You may have heard of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), famously used in “vampire facials” or by athletes recovering from knee injuries. While PRP and PRF are cousins, they are not the same thing.
PRP was the first generation of this technology. However, to keep the blood from clotting inside the test tube, doctors have to add chemical anticoagulants (blood thinners) to the vials. While PRP effectively releases growth factors, it releases them very quickly—usually in a big burst over the first few hours.
PRF Dental technology is the advanced, second generation. It requires no chemical additives and no anticoagulants. Because we allow the natural fibrin scaffold to form, the growth factors are trapped inside the mesh and are released slowly. This slow release is crucial for dental healing, which takes days and weeks, not just hours. The fibrin mesh also serves as a physical bridge for new cells to crawl across to close a wound.
Why I Use PRF for Dental Implants and Bone Grafting
When I place a dental implant, the most critical factor for success is “osseointegration.” This is the process where your jawbone grows tightly around the titanium post, locking it in place. If the bone doesn’t heal well, the implant can fail.
Using PRF gives us a massive advantage here. By mixing the PRF clot with bone grafting material, we create what I call “sticky bone.” This mixture is easier to handle and stays exactly where I place it. More importantly, the PRF permeates the graft with blood supply.
Here is a compelling data point to consider: Studies have shown that using platelet concentrates like PRF can significantly enhance bone regeneration. In fact, research indicates that the presence of these growth factors can accelerate the early phases of bone healing, sometimes improving the quality of new bone formation by a significant margin compared to sites healing without PRF.
This means we can often achieve stability sooner, allowing you to get your final crown faster and with more confidence in the long-term result.
Preventing “Dry Socket” After Tooth Extractions
If you need a tooth extracted—especially a wisdom tooth—your biggest fear is likely “dry socket.” Dry socket happens when the blood clot dislodges from the hole left by the tooth, exposing the bone and nerves. It is incredibly painful.
I use PRF for almost all extraction sites to prevent this. By placing a PRF membrane into the socket, we are essentially placing a super-strong, anchored blood clot that is much harder to dislodge than a natural one. It covers the bone and jump-starts the gum tissue closure.
For more detailed scientific context on how platelet concentrates aid in healing, you can read this article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Gum Recession and Soft Tissue Grafting
As a periodontist, a large part of my work involves fixing receding gums. Traditionally, gum grafting involved cutting a piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth (the palate) and stitching it to the gum line. While effective, the roof of the mouth can be quite sore afterward.
With PRF Dental techniques, we can sometimes avoid taking tissue from the palate entirely, or at least improve the healing of that area. The PRF membrane is thick and elastic. When used in gum grafting, it encourages your own gum tissue to migrate and thicken. It reduces inflammation rapidly, meaning you have less swelling and less pain in the days following the surgery.
The “Holistic” Advantage
I define my practice by a holistic approach. I believe that everything we do in the mouth affects the rest of the body, and vice versa. Many of my patients are health-conscious. They eat organic, they exercise, and they avoid unnecessary chemicals.
PRF aligns perfectly with this philosophy. We are not using synthetic pharmaceuticals to force the body to heal. We are not introducing animal-derived products (like bovine bone) without support. We are simply concentrating your own vitality and putting it to work. It is organic, autologous (coming from you), and completely safe.
Data-Backed Pain Reduction
Nobody likes post-operative pain. One of the most consistent pieces of feedback I get from patients who opt for PRF is how surprisingly manageable their recovery is. This isn’t just anecdotal; it is backed by science.
Data Point #2: Clinical trials comparing extraction sites with and without PRF have demonstrated that patients treated with PRF report lower pain scores on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and require fewer painkillers in the days following surgery. The anti-inflammatory properties of the leukocytes trapped in the fibrin mesh play a massive role in calming the nerves and tissues down immediately after the procedure.
Is PRF Right for You?
While PRF is an amazing technology, I evaluate every patient individually. However, because it is so safe and derived from your own blood, there are very few contraindications. It is particularly beneficial for:
- Smokers: Smoking constricts blood vessels and slows healing. PRF brings a concentrated blood supply to the area, counteracting some of the negative effects of smoking (though I still strongly advise quitting before surgery!).
- Diabetics: Diabetes can interfere with wound healing. PRF provides the extra boost of growth factors needed to ensure a successful outcome.
- Patients with thin gums: PRF helps bulk up the tissue naturally.
- Anyone wanting a faster recovery: If you have a busy job or lifestyle and cannot afford to be out of commission for a week, PRF helps you bounce back faster.
What to Expect After Surgery with PRF
Even with the magic of PRF, you are still undergoing surgery, and your body needs respect during the healing process. However, the timeline often looks a bit better with this therapy.
The First 24 Hours
You may still have some swelling, but the PRF is already at work releasing growth factors. It is essential not to disturb the surgical site. Do not touch it with your tongue or fingers. The PRF membrane is slippery and needs to stay in place.
The First Week
This is where PRF shines. The “slow release” of growth factors continues for about 7 days. You will likely notice that the gum tissue closes over the wound much faster than previous surgeries you may have had. If we used PRF on the roof of your mouth for a graft, it acts as a liquid bandage, making eating much more comfortable.
Long Term
Months down the line, when we take X-rays to check on your implant or bone graft, we typically see denser, higher-quality bone formation. This provides a solid foundation for your teeth that can last a lifetime.
My Commitment to Advanced Care
I chose to integrate PRF Dental therapy into my Beverly Hills practice because I refuse to settle for “good enough.” Standard healing is fine, but optimal healing is what I want for you. The combination of microsurgical techniques and biological enhancements like PRF allows me to perform less invasive surgeries with better results.
The dental field is moving away from purely mechanical fixes (drilling and filling) toward biological regeneration. We are learning how to help the body repair itself. PRF is at the forefront of this shift.
If you are facing oral surgery, do not view it just as a procedure to “get over with.” View it as an opportunity to restore your health using the best tools available. By choosing PRF, you are investing in a smoother recovery, less pain, and a stronger foundation for your smile. I am proud to offer this technology, and I look forward to showing you how gentle and effective modern dental surgery can be.
