Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin an Excellent Option for Heart Patients
For those cardiac patients on anticoagulant medications and who need a tooth extraction, it is important for the treating clinician to have a protocol that will help prevent major bleeding following dental extractions without suspending anticoagulant therapy.
In an issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology, a study evaluated the use of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin biomaterial, which is commonly used in dentistry to improve tissue regeneration and healing. It was tested as a safe filling and hemostatic material after dental extractions in 50 heart patients undergoing oral anticoagulant therapy, according to a news release.
The heart patients in the study had mechanical valve substitutions and were placed on anticoagulant oral therapy with warfarin. It is not recommended to suspend the anticoagulant and replace with heparin prior to minor surgery, although this substitution may control the risk of postoperative bleeding
Using a platelet-rich plasma placed in postextraction tooth sockets is way of controlling bleeding without suspending the anticoagulant. While this method has shown some success, barriers to daily use exist:
The platelet concentrates take a long time to prepare and it is expensive. An alternative biomaterial that is simple and inexpensive to
prepare, platelet-rich fibrin has proven useful in daily dental practice as filling material for regeneration in order to place implants.
CDA JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2012, VOL 40, #2, pg113
note: At Reuss Dental we use Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) taken from the patient’s arm and spun down to get the desired growth factors and concentrated platelets. We see enhanced healing, better bleeding control, and decreased post op pain.