What is PRF in dentistry?
PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is made by spinning a small sample of the patient's own blood in a centrifuge until it separates into a fibrin gel rich in platelets and white cells. In dental surgery it can be placed in extraction sockets, mixed with bone graft material or shaped into a membrane. Reviews suggest it may help soft-tissue healing and socket preservation, but evidence is limited. Whether it adds anything to your surgery in Dubai is decided case by case.
Who treats you here Dr. Firas Osman Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist · Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist
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What is PRF, and how is it made?
Platelets are the blood cells that start healing: when you cut yourself they gather at the wound and release growth factors that call in repair cells and new blood vessels. PRF concentrates that natural process. A small amount of blood, often a few tubes, is drawn from the arm just before surgery and spun in a centrifuge. Without any additive to stop clotting, the blood separates into three layers: red cells at the bottom, a yellowish fibrin clot packed with platelets and white cells in the middle, and clear plasma on top.
The middle layer is the PRF. It can be used as a gel plug, pressed into thin membranes, cut into small pieces and mixed with graft granules, or, with a slower spin, kept briefly liquid (often called i-PRF) so it can be mixed with graft material before it sets. You may also hear names such as L-PRF, A-PRF or CGF; these describe different spin speeds and protocols for the same basic idea.
Because it comes from your own body there is no donor material, which is why some patients ask about it alongside bone graft materials of animal or synthetic origin. PRF is not a bone substitute on its own, though: in grafting it is usually an addition to the graft, not a replacement for it.
PRF vs PRP: is it the same "plasma" used in skin treatments?
Many people meet the word "plasma" first in aesthetic clinics. The dental versions are related but not identical.
| PRP (platelet-rich plasma) | PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) | Liquid PRF (i-PRF) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Blood with an anticoagulant, spun to concentrate platelets in liquid plasma | Blood spun without anticoagulant so it clots into a fibrin gel | Blood spun briefly and slowly, used before it clots |
| Form | Liquid | Gel plug or flexible membrane | Liquid for a short time, then gel |
| How growth factors are released | Mostly quickly, in the first hours | More gradually, as the fibrin network breaks down | Gradually, once it has set |
| Typical dental uses | Older technique, now used less in dental surgery | Extraction sockets, membranes over grafts, gum and sinus procedures | Mixed with graft granules to bind them together |
| Common outside dentistry | Skin, hair and joint injections | Less common | Some skin treatments |
Protocols differ between systems and studies, which is one reason results are hard to compare.
Does PRF speed healing after an extraction?
This is the use with the most research behind it. A systematic review and meta-analysis in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery found that PRF was associated with less alveolar osteitis (dry socket) after wisdom tooth surgery, better preservation of the bone ridge in extraction sockets and around implants, and higher implant stability in the first weeks. The same authors cautioned that few studies had a low risk of bias and few patients were included, so further randomised trials are needed to confirm these results.
In practical terms, PRF may make the first days of soft-tissue healing smoother and may reduce the chance of a dry socket after difficult extractions. It does not replace the things that matter most for an uneventful recovery: careful surgery, a stable blood clot, not smoking, and following aftercare. A normal extraction heals well without it, through the stages described in the guide to tooth extraction healing.
Where is PRF used in dental surgery, and what does the evidence say?
A plain summary of common uses. "Limited evidence" means small or short studies, not proof that it does not work.
| Procedure | How PRF is used | What it may help with | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisdom tooth removal | Placed in the socket after surgery | Less dry socket and early discomfort in some studies | Moderate, with variable study quality |
| Extraction before an implant | Fills the socket alone or with graft material | Preserving ridge shape while the site heals | Limited but encouraging |
| Bone grafting | Mixed with granules or laid over them as a membrane | Handling of the graft and soft-tissue closure | Limited; not a substitute for graft material |
| Sinus lift | Mixed with graft material or used to cover a small membrane tear | Handling and soft-tissue healing | Limited and mixed |
| Around implants | Placed at the implant site during surgery | Early stability and gum healing in some studies | Limited; long-term benefit unclear |
Is PRF needed for dental implants?
No. Implants fuse with bone (osseointegrate) through the body's normal healing, typically over about three to six months, and the large majority of implants are placed and heal without PRF. What determines a good outcome is the plan: enough healthy bone, an implant chosen for the site and bite, a precise placement, healthy gums and good maintenance. Where bone is missing, the established answer is grafting, such as socket preservation after an extraction or a sinus lift in the upper back jaw.
PRF is best thought of as an optional adjunct that some surgeons use in some situations, for example a site with thin gum, a large graft or a patient whose healing they want to support. If it appears in a treatment quote, it is reasonable to ask what it is expected to add in your case.
If a quote lists PRF, ask these questions
What is PRF being used for in my case, and what would happen without it? Is it optional? What does the evidence show for this particular use? How much blood is drawn and when? Clear answers help you compare plans fairly and decide for yourself.
Is PRF safe?
Because PRF is made from your own blood and returned to you during the same procedure, there is no risk of rejection or of infection being passed from a donor. The main side effects are those of a routine blood test: a bruise or soreness at the arm, and occasionally feeling faint during the draw. The blood must be processed with sterile technique and used straight away.
Tell the team about any blood disorder, and about medicines that affect bleeding or clotting, before any oral surgery; this matters for the surgery itself whether or not PRF is involved. Do not stop prescribed medicines such as blood thinners on your own; any change is agreed with the doctor who prescribed them. The guide to dental implant risks covers the broader risks of implant surgery, and bone graft failure explains the warning signs after grafting.
Planning an extraction, graft or implant? See how implant surgery at Creative Arts in Dubai is planned from 3D imaging, with a written plan that lists every step and option.
Explore dental implantsHow are adjuncts like PRF decided at Creative Arts?
Implant and oral surgery at Creative Arts is assessed and planned by Dr. Firas Osman, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist, with Dr. Khalid Saeed and Dr. Kinan Bonni, using a 3D CBCT scan. Every element of the proposed treatment, including any grafting, membranes or other additions, is listed in a written, itemised plan with alternatives before you commit.
If you have read about PRF and want to know whether it would make any difference to your extraction, graft or implant, ask at the assessment. Whether it is suitable for your case, and whether it would be part of the surgery here or not, is decided at that visit and explained in your plan.