Platelet-rich plasma is made from your own blood. A small sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge, which separates it into layers and concentrates the platelets. Platelets carry the growth factors that signal the start of tissue repair, so applying a concentrated preparation directly to a surgical site delivers those signals exactly where healing needs to happen.
A related preparation, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), is processed without anticoagulants and produces a fibrin clot that can be pressed into a membrane or mixed with graft particles.
Where it is used
In dentistry, PRP and PRF are used alongside procedures such as bone grafting, socket preservation, sinus lifts, implant placement and soft tissue grafting. Mixed with particulate graft material, the fibrin helps hold the graft together and makes it easier to handle. Placed over a surgical site, a PRF membrane can protect the wound while it heals.
It is an adjunct to a procedure, not a treatment in its own right — it supports healing at a site your dentist at Parkway Dental is already treating.
What to expect
A blood draw is taken at your appointment, much like a routine blood test, usually 10 to 20 millilitres. It is spun in the centrifuge for several minutes while the surgical site is prepared, then the concentrate is applied during the procedure. The additional time is modest.
Because the material comes from you, there is no risk of disease transmission or immune rejection — which is one of its main attractions.
Honest expectations
Reported benefits include reduced post-operative swelling and discomfort and improved early soft-tissue healing. The evidence base varies by application: it is better established for some procedures than others, and it does not guarantee the success of a graft or implant. We will tell you plainly whether we expect a meaningful benefit in your specific case rather than offering it as a routine add-on.
The blood draw requires normal clotting; certain blood disorders, some medications and active infection may make it unsuitable.