The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as a wound-healing accelerator in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy and requiring tooth extractions.
A total of 102 patients were divided into a PRF group and control group. The patients received oral bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis for an average of 32 months. Blood was collected and PRF was introduced into the socket of the PRF group only. Monitoring of mucosal healing was conducted for 3 months in both groups, and radiographic evaluation in the sockets was performed in the PRF group. Delayed recovery was defined as exposed bone and vulnerable granulation tissue without epithelization after 4 weeks and resolving by 8 weeks.
There were no intraoperative complications, and none of the patients exhibited onset of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Delayed recovery was observed in 9 out of 73 control patients (12%), whereas 29 PRF patients exhibited complete epithelialization of the socket within 1 month. The prevalence of delayed recovery was significantly higher in the control group than the PRF group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors and use of PRF were independent significant factors to relate to delayed recovery (P = 0.02).
Early epithelization was confirmed in all PRF patients. Thus, PRF may reduce the risk of delayed recovery in patients undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy.
PRF may be useful in preventing MRONJ in patients receiving oral bisphosphonate (BP).