Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) | Memphis Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group PLLC

Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) is a component taken from your own blood that is used to enhance bone growth and soft tissue healing. The growth factors are separated from your blood by a process in which a centrifuge is used to “spin-out” these special blood components. One of our trained and experienced phlebotomists collects a blood sample in order to create the PRP. Once formed we are able to develop a PRP Liquid or a PRP Gel (slug) or even use the PRP exudate to help with the healing process of your implant surgery.

When a tooth has extracted the hole that is left normally fills with a blood clot and eventually becomes bone. However, that extraction site inevitably becomes smaller as time goes on. Sometimes, the area of bone becomes too small to place a dental implant. Additionally, as we age our ability to form new bone decreases. The amount of time in order for these things to occur varies between patients. In an attempt to prevent this from happening we utilize a technique called Ridge Preservation. The purpose is to prevent the ridge from shrinking in the area that we intend to place an implant.

We place a bone graft oftentimes combined with PRP into the socket at the time of the extraction. This combination gives us the best opportunity to preserve the ridge width and height with new high-quality bone. This then makes for an ideal site to place a dental implant. For patients who have lost their back teeth in the upper arch, we can also take advantage of this exciting technology. If you have inadequate boney height because of a large sinus we can again combine a bone graft with PRP to help. In this situation, we add bone on the sinus side of your missing tooth. This rebuilds the bone height that is necessary in order to receive a well-placed implant.

The creation of this technology now allows us to be able to provide treatment to patients who were previously unable to get implants. This fascinating bone and soft tissue technology first developed in oral and maxillofacial surgery have expanded to be used in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, veterinary surgery, and various other surgical and non-surgical subspecialties in medicine and dentistry.

The Memphis Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group are proud to be able to provide this revolutionary technology for our patients and the dental community.