Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (or PRGF) is a type of plasma rich protein (PRP) that is derived by fractioning blood into its components. PRGF is used primarily in bone and soft tissue regeneration. It is a technique that uses a small amount of the patients own blood to isolate crucialproteins that stimulate healing, foster new bone growth, and repair soft-tissue in surgical sites. And, because PRGF is derived from the patient’s own blood and tissue, the process is very safe with little risk of disease transmission or rejection from the donor.

The Excitement About PRGF

PRGF is considered a breakthrough in bone and soft tissue regeneration because it permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. When the body is wounded and needs to heal, many different cells and cell-types are rushed to the site of the injury. These cells initiate the healing process by forming blood clots and releasing growth factors into the wound. The more growth factors that are introduced to the wound, the quicker and more efficiently the body is able to heal.

By introducing PRGF to the surgical area, the body is able to take advantage of a large amount of growth factors without the blood cells. This allows for accelerated healing but without the immune system response of swelling and inflammation. PRGF also has been shown to increase the formation of new bone. By adding PRGF to the surgical site, the doctor can now grow bone and stimulate healing more predictably and faster than ever before.

1) It is Safe. PRGF are derived from the patient’s own blood. As a result, disease transmission is not an issue. It is Convenient. PRGF is easily generated in our office and can be done while the patient is undergoing another procedure, such as placement of dental implants. It helps with Faster Healing. By saturating the wound with PRGF, the patient will experience faster healing time and tissue regeneration.

2) It is Cost Effective. Because we are able to generate PRGF in office, the patient need not go through the expense of a harvesting procedure in a hospital or at a blood bank.

3) It is Easy to Use. PRGF is easy to handle and makes applying bone substitute materials and bone grafting products easier to manipulate.

Is PRGF Safe?

Yes! A very small amount of your own blood is drawn via IV during the outpatient procedure. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge and spun down. This helps separate the PRGF from the other contents of your blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, etc). The entire process takes only 40 minutes!

Can PRGF Be Used In All Bone-Grafting Cases?

Because each patient’s needs are different, PRGF can not be used in all cases. There are situations in which PRGF is not necessary, for example if there is no infection, if the surgical site was small, or if there are no plans to add an implant in the extraction site. However, for a vast majority of cases, PRGF can greatly benefit the patient by making the would heal faster and more efficiently. In fact, it is especially helpful for those with decreased healing response (ie: diabetics, smokers, the elderly, or those with immune disorders).

Will PRGF Be Covered By My Insurance?

This answer depends on your insurance coverage. However, even if it is not covered since PRGF often stimulates bone growth without bone grafting the cost is more often than not offset by the savings from not having a bone grafting procedure.

Are There Any Contraindications To PRGF?

There are a few contraindications to PRGF. Those with bleeding disorders or hematologic diseases may not qualify. It is best to discuss your treatment options with your doctor to determine if you are a candidate for PRGF.