Role of PRP in Healing After Impacted Mandibular 3rd Molar Surgery

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of human platelets in a small volume of plasma. Because it is a concentration of platelets, it is also a concentration of the 7 fundamental protein growth factors proved to be actively secreted by platelets to initiate all wound healing. These growth factors include the 3 isomers of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFaa, PDGFßß, and PDGFaß), 2 of the numerous transforming growth factors-ß (TGFß1 and TGFß2), vascular endothelial growth factor, and epithelial growth factor. All of these growth factors have been documented to exist in platelets. PRP also contains the 3 proteins in blood known to act as cell adhesion molecules for osteoconduction and as a matrix for bone, connective tissue, and epithelial migration. These cell adhesion molecules are fibrin itself, fibronectin, and vitronectin. PRP enhances osteoprogenitor cells in the host bone and progenitor cells in soft tissues and thereby healing of soft tissues and extraction sockets of teeth