Evaluation of the Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on the Alveolar Osteitis Incidence and Periodontal Probing Depth after Extracting Partially Erupted Mandibular Third Molars Extraction.

Abstract

To evaluate whether the alveolar osteitis (AO) incidence after extracting partially erupted third molars differs when platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is administered in the alveolar socket and to assess the influence of PRF on postoperative pain levels and periodontal probing depth. In this split-mouth randomized study, 50 patients (17 men/ 33 women; mean age, 23.96 years) with bilateral symmetric partially erupted mandibular third molars were enrolled. PRF was randomly placed in one extraction socket, whereas the other socket was left empty. A verbal rating scale was used to evaluate postoperative pain levels. AO development was evaluated on the 7th postoperative day. At 3 months postoperatively, periodontal probing depth was measured on the distal surface of the second molars. In total, 8% of patients in the PRF group and 18% of the patients in the control group were diagnosed with AO. None of the smokers in the PRF group and 37.5% smokers in the control group were diagnosed with AO. Mean postoperative pain levels were lower in the PRF group than in the control group at all time points. At 3 months postoperatively, periodontal probing depths were found to be ≤3 mm in both groups. PRF significantly reduced the AO incidence among smokers and had a positive effect on postoperative pain levels but not on periodontal healing.