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I C.E. article_ platelet-rich fibrin PRF brings new challenges to the dental office Author_Alvaro Betancur, DDS _c.e. credit This article qualifies for C.E. credit. To take the C.E. quiz, log on to www.dtstudyclub. com. Click on ‘C.E. articles’ and search for this edition (Implants C.E. Magazine — 4/2017). If you are not regis- tered with the site, you will be asked to do so before taking the quiz. You may also access the quiz by using the QR code below. _Platelet-rich fibrin can play an important role in oral and maxillofacial surgery, implant dentistry, periodontal regeneration and post-extraction site preservation. The fibrin is a reservoir of platelets that will slowly release growth factors and cytokines, which are the key factors for regeneration of the bone and matura- tion of the soft tissue. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an autologous platelet concentrate prepared from the patient’s own blood at the dentist’s office just before the oral/dental procedure. Recent studies are focused on the development of natural therapeutic alternatives, which are easy to prepare, non-toxic or biocompatible to living tissues and economically inexpensive. The goal is the local release of growth factors, in turn accelerating hard- and soft-tissue healing. PRF is a natural fibrin-based biomaterial pre- pared without anticoagulants or artificial additives (biomedical modifiers) that allow us to obtain au- tologous fibrin membranes and plugs with a high concentration of platelets and white cells, releasing growth factors at the surgical site for seven to 14 days and accelerating the natural healing process. Evidence from literature suggests the potential role PRF provides in most oral-surgery procedures is key for regeneration and tissue engineering. The slow polymerization during centrifugation and fibrin-based structure could make PRF a better heal- ing biomaterial than PRP and other fibrin adhesives, but literature is also controversial, with many publi- cations demonstrating excellent results with PRP as well as with PRF. There is evidence that the presence of growth factors and cytokines in platelets play key roles in inflammation and wound healing. Platelets also secrete fibrin, fibronectin and vitronectin, which act as a matrix for the connective tissue and as adhesion Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig.1_Boca Dental Supply blood collection tubes steri-pack are single-use, medical-grade packages for blood collection and manufacturing of PRF. Discard any unused tubes. Fig. 2_ Doctor usually expends less than two minutes drawing patient’s blood. (Photos/Provided by Dr. Alvaro Betancur) 04 I implants 4_2017