A comparative Prospective Clinical Study of Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Chlorhexidine Gel for Wound Healing Enhancement and Prevention of Alveolar Osteitis

Objective: The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of intra-alveolar platelet rich fibrin (PRF) and chlorhexidine gel for pain relief and quality of socket healing (Epithelialization) with prevention of dry socket after the surgical removal of impacted third molars.
Patients and methods: A total of 30 patients (17 males and 13 females; with a mean age of 30 years). who required extraction of impacted third molars were randomly divided into three groups: PRF group ; PRF were placed in the extraction sockets ,chlorhexidine CHX gel 0.2% group ; 1 ml CHX were placed in the extraction sockets and control group, while the sockets remained empty. All the patients were evaluated for Pain (VAS), degree of inflammation, healthy granulation tissue formation and number of exposed socket walls (socket epithelialization) , dry socket incidence and maximum interincisal mouth opening MIO at 1st , 3rdand 7th, post-operative day.
Results: In the PRF group, a significantly less pain was recorded in the third and seventh postoperative days (P = 0.003, 0.04) respectively. Group (PRF) showed better soft tissue and socket healing than chlorhexidine gel and control groups but non-significant difference was observed. PRF reduced the incidence of alveolar osteitis. .
Conclusion: PRF in this study illustrates the promising results to be used effectively in the prevention of alveolar osteitis. PRF treated cases showed better response to postoperative pain, better clinical socket healing with reduction of inflammation and more improvement of maximum interincisal mouth opening MIO than chlorhexidine gel 0.2% after the removal of third molars.