Platelet-rich plasma in periodontal defect treatment after extraction of impacted mandibular third molars

PURPOSE: The extraction of mesioangular impacted third molars may cause multiple periodontal defects at the distal root of the second molar. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a material containing many autologous growth factors that may be used in repairing and preventing periodontal complications at the distal root of the second molar adjacent to the extracted third molar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the effects of autologous PRP on periodontal tissues after extraction of the third molar in 18 young patients (age, 20–30 years). Inclusion criteria were the presence of a pocket distal to the mandibular second molar with a probing depth [3] of 7.5 mm and a probing attachment level [3] of 6 mm. RESULTS: We observed, at 12 weeks after surgery, a notable reduction in the probing depth and an improvement in the probing attachment level in those cases treated with PRP compared with the controls, as well as formation of new bone tissue in the bone defect. CONCLUSION: We showed that PRP is effective in inducing and accelerating bone regeneration for the treatment of periodontal defects at the distal root of the mandibular second molar after surgical extraction of a mesioangular, deeply impacted mandibular third molar.