The effect of submucosal injection of platelet-rich fibrin vs. platelet-rich plasma on orthodontic tooth movement in rabbits; 28 days follow-up

Abstract

This study aimed to compare between the effects of submucosal injection of platelet rich fibrin (i-PRF) versus platelet rich plasma (PRP) on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in a rabbit model over a 28-day follow-up period. Sixty-three rabbits were assigned into 3 equal groups. Group I animals were subjected to the OTM without any treatments and considered as the control. Whereas groups II and III were handled as group I and instead i-PRF and PRP were injected submucosally in the buccal vestibular mucosa next to the mandibular 1st premolar, respectively. The distance of OTM was consecutively measured clinically after 7, 14 and 28 days. Seven rabbits from each group were euthanized after 7, 14 and 28 days for histological evaluation. Two-way ANOVA followed by LSD post-hoc statistical tests were used for comparison. After 28 days, the mean tooth movements were 4.36±0.04mm in the control group, 6.30±0.06mm in the group receiving PRP and, 6.85±0.09mm in the group receiving i-PRF. Statistical analysis for the values of teeth movements revealed highly significant differences between different groups (P=0.001) and between different time periods (P=0.001). Histological analysis showed that submucosal injection of PRP and i-PRF yielded significant differences in periodontal ligament width in compression and tension sides between different groups (P=0.001) and between different time periods (P=0.001). Submucosal injection of either PRP or i-PRF is a minimally invasive and safe approach for accelerating OTM. In this rabbit model, the effect of i-PRF is significantly more pronounced than the effect of PRP.