Platelet rich fibrin
Healing is something your own blood already knows how to do. Your blood contains platelets and natural proteins that play an important role in healing. PRF concentrates these components and places them directly into the extraction site to support tissue repair, stabilize the blood clot, and promote a smoother recovery.
What is platelet rich fibrin?
PRF is made from a small sample of your own blood, spun down in the office to separate out the platelets and the proteins that drive healing. What is left is a soft fibrin matrix that can be placed straight into a surgical site, where it releases growth factors gradually over the days that follow.
It is used alongside other procedures rather than on its own: after an extraction, packed into a graft, or placed around an implant. Because it comes from you, there is nothing foreign introduced and no risk of allergic reaction. The evidence is strongest for soft tissue healing and for reducing the incidence of dry socket after extractions.
PRF is an addition to a procedure, not a substitute for one. Dr. Wu will tell you whether it is worth including in your case, and whether it is likely to make a difference to your particular result.
Available at both the Portland and Hood River offices.
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01
A small blood draw
Taken at the start of your appointment, the same as any routine lab test. It takes a couple of minutes.
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Processing in the office
The sample is spun in a centrifuge at low speed, which separates the platelet rich layer without additives or anticoagulants. This happens while you are being prepared for surgery, so it adds nothing to your appointment time.
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03
Placement
The fibrin is placed directly into the socket, the graft site or around the implant, during the procedure itself. Nothing separate happens to you, and there is no second appointment.
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04
Afterward
The matrix breaks down over the following days and weeks, releasing growth factors into the site as it goes. There is nothing for you to do differently, and normal aftercare instructions still apply.
FAQ's
Typically not. PRF is usually an out-of-pocket add-on rather than something billed through dental or medical insurance, since it isn't always considered medically necessary. Ask our team for the cost at your consultation.
Is PRF covered by insurance?
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Are there any reasons I might not be a candidate for PRF?
2
Certain blood disorders and blood-thinning medications can affect how well PRF works. Dr. Wu will review your medical history and let you know if it makes sense for you.
Can I skip PRF and just have the graft or implant on its own?
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Yes. PRF is optional, and plenty of procedures succeed without it. Dr. Wu will tell you when it's likely to meaningfully improve healing versus when it's not necessary.
Advanced Training in Dentistry and Medicine
Dr. Brendan Wu is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with advanced education in both dentistry and medicine. He earned his dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, his medical degree from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and a master’s degree in immunology from Harvard Medical School. His comprehensive academic and surgical training supports his expertise in dental implant surgery, bone grafting, anesthesia, facial trauma, and the management of complex oral and maxillofacial conditions.