ACCELERATING HEALING AND MINIMIZING DOWNTIME
Advances in our understanding of healing after any type of surgical therapy, and the
availability of simple, newer technologies to help accelerate such healing, offer
significant advantages to all your patients.
Your body activates a number of healing mechanisms in a multi-stage healing
process the moment any surgery is performed. Platelets in the blood stream come
into the area, carrying a number of growth factors which are necessary for
regeneration of new bone, blood vessels and soft tissues. All healing begins with
platelets. Proteins in your platelets are a response team and start performing a
number of activities to stop bleeding, attract infection fighting cells, and initiate new
cell and tissue formation.
Preparation rich in growth factors (PRGF) is a revolutionizing technology which
concentrates your own platelets from a small sample of blood, drawn at the time of
surgery. A qualified staff member draws 60ml (about four tablespoons) of your
blood. The blood is placed in a specially designed centrifuging machine which
separates the blood and concentrates the platelets, growth factors and fibrin.
The PRGF is utilized in a number of ways, depending upon the therapy to be
performed. The PRGF may be mixed with bone graft material to accelerate bone
regeneration and improve the quality of your regrown bone. When soft tissue grafts
are performed to cover recessed root and rebuild lost soft tissue, PRGF is utilized to
accelerate soft tissue healing and improve the final quality of your soft tissues.
During periodontal surgery, the use of PRGF significantly speeds healing and
reduces postoperative discomfort.
The concept behind PRGF is the boosting of your personal healing system with a
concentrated delivery of your own growth factors to the treated site.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the addition of PRGF results in faster
bone regeneration, regeneration of denser bone, and faster improved soft tissue
healing. In addition, postoperative discomfort is significantly reduced when PRGF is
utilized.
We have worked for a number of years with PRGF in our office. Recent advances in
technology now make this procedure even simpler and less invasive for the patient,
while maintaining all of the previously discussed advantages.
Please feel free to ask us any questions regarding PRGF therapy or any other
phases of your treatment.
Sincerely,
Paul A Fugazzotto, DDS
Scott Lightfoot, DDS,MS