Influence of L-PRF Topical Application on Bone Tissue Healing after Surgical Extraction of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: Randomized Split-Mouth Clinical Study

Abstract

The beneficial effect of autologous blood products in the post-extraction period has been proven regarding acceleration of soft tissue healing, pain reduction, swelling and trismus, but data concerning bone healing are contradictory. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-PRF on bone tissue healing after third mandibular molar extraction. Extractions of bilateral, symmetrical, impacted mandibular molars were performed in 30 patients, in a prospective split-mouth, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. L-PRF was applied to one alveolus, while the other alveolus was left to heal spontaneously. A sample of 60 extraction alveoli (the control and experimental groups, with 30 alveoli each) was analyzed. Two CBCT images were performed immediately after the surgery and eight weeks postoperatively to reconstruct the healing site and analyze the volume of the extraction defect and bone density. The depth of the periodontal pocket on the adjacent tooth was clinically measured 7 days and 8 weeks after extraction. The results show that the minimum and maximum values of the monitored parameters in the alveoli in both the control and experimental groups are within the expected range. Based on p = 0.826 (MANOVA; for I measurement) and p = 0.499 (MANOVA; for II measurement), it was concluded that no significant difference and clearly defined boundary between the groups were observed. Considering that p > 0.1 (VOL, bone density, periodontal pocket) is for both I and II measurement, no significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the wound volume, bone density and periodontal pocket.