Platelet-rich fibrin along with a modified minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of intrabony defects: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE: The modified minimally invasive surgical technique (M-MIST) has been successfully employed to achieve periodontal regeneration. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is known to enhance wound healing through the release of growth factors. This study aimed to observe the outcomes of periodontal surgery when M-MIST was used with or without PRF for the treatment of isolated intrabony defects. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 36 systemically healthy patients, who had chronic periodontitis associated with a single-site buccal probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level of ≥5 mm. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the test group treated with M-MIST and PRF, and the control group treated with M-MIST alone. The primary periodontal parameters analyzed were PPD, relative attachment level (RAL), and relative gingival margin level. The radiographic parameters analyzed were change in alveolar crest position (C-ACP), linear bone growth (LBG), and percentage bone fill (%BF). Patients were followed up to 6 months post-surgery. RESULTS: Intragroup comparisons at 3 and 6 months showed consistently significant improvements in PPD and RAL in both the groups. In intergroup comparisons, the improvement in PPD reduction, gain in RAL, and the level of the gingival margin was similar in both groups at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Furthermore, an intergroup comparison of radiographic parameters also demonstrated similar improvements in C-ACP, LBG, and %BF at 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: M-MIST with or without PRF yielded comparable periodontal tissue healing in terms of improvements in periodontal and radiographic parameters. Further investigation is required to confirm the beneficial effects of PRF with M-MIST. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03169920