Use of PRP, PRF and CGF in Periodontal Regeneration and Facial Rejuvenation—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Growth factors (GFs) play a vital role in cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and angiogenesis. Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) which contain high levels of GFs make them especially suitable for periodontal regeneration and facial rejuvenation. The main generations of APCs presented are platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and concentrated growth factor (CGF) techniques. The purpose of this review is to provide the clinician with an overview of APCs’ evolution over the past decade in order to give reliable and useful information to be used in clinical work. This review summarizes the most interesting and novel articles published between 1997 and 2020. Electronic and manual searches were conducted in the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Embase. The following keywords were used: growth factors, VEGF, TGF-b1, PRP, PRF, CGF and periodontal regeneration and/or facial rejuvenation. A total of 73 articles were finally included. The review then addresses the uses of the three different techniques in the two disciplines, as well as the advantages and limitations of each technique. Overall, PRP is mainly used in cases of hard and soft tissue procedures, while PRF is used in gingival recession and the treatment of furcation and intrabony defects; CGF is mainly used in bone regeneration.

An Insight into Recent Advances on Platelet Function in Health and Disease

“…The reason for employing PRP is based on findings that platelets produce GFs when they degranulate, speeding up the assignment of cells involved in the healing process. For its efficacy in soft tissue healing, PRP treatment has shown great outcomes in oral and maxillofacial surgical operations [ 156 ]. Our growing understanding of platelet function in wound healing and tissue regeneration has led to the success of autologous PRP-derived products, which are now widely used in a variety of clinical settings, ranging from skin wounds and diabetic ulcers to tendons and ligament regeneration, from eye lesions to bone loss [ 157 ].…”

Clinical application of concentrate growth factors combined with bone substitute in Alveolar ridge preservation of anterior teeth

“…Relaying on the strong soft tissue induction ability of CGF membrane [ 40 ], a full and sufficient keratinized gingival could be seen 3 months after the operation. The LWHI in the CGF group was higher than the control group 1 week after the operation, indicating that CGF promoted the rapid growth of soft tissue.…”

Use of platelet-rich plasma in irradiated patients to treat and prevent complications of head and neck surgery

“…PRP is extremely inexpensive, as the only equipment needed is a centrifuge, which is present in most hospital settings. As PRP has an autologous origin, being obtained from the patient’s blood, no significant adverse effects have been reported5; even though they are not numerous, studies in which PRP was used in head and neck surgery show that it is completely safe 7 9 12 15 16…”