Extraction and Socket Preservation before Implant Placement Using Freeze-Dried Allograft (FDBA) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Smokers: Radiographic and Histological Evaluation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors carried out a competent, well-structured research. With an abstract adequately demonstrating the work carried out. However, it was important that in this abstract the study groups were identified in full and not by acronyms so that the reader can immediately understand the 4 groups correctly. The introduction is succinct and objective and describes the current state of the art of the subject under study. The materials and methods hit all points proposed for the investigation. I think, however, that the number of subjects in the trial should be clearly larger and the age distribution better clarified. The description of the histological technique could also be better described. The results are clear, the statistical analysis was exhaustive. The histological images could be of better quality and reference should be made to the magnifications shown, as it is not even in the image captions. The discussion is very demonstrative where the authors, on their own initiative, refer to some of the limitations and weaknesses inherent in this type of study.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors,

the question under investigation is very interesting. There are many scientific researches that have evaluated the benefits that can be obtained from the use of PRF, but the in-depth analysis on its use in smoking patients with the inclusion and exclusion criteria you indicated is interesting. I think it might have been appropriate to highlight the estimated quantity of cigarettes for each smoker. Why didn't you mention it?

The manuscript is well-formulated in all sections. Study design, data acquisition and related analysis were well developed. I believe there could be an overall gain from publishing your data, despite the presence of significant limitations affecting the study that have been correctly stated.

Bibliographic references are not self-referential. However, I advise you to cite more current works such as the one I point out below regarding the benefits of using PRF: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091301

Good job.

The English language is fluent. There are grammatical and typo errors that can be easily fixed. Some sentences are too long: to improve understanding I suggest you rephrase them.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

The authors evaluated the clinical outcome of using platelet-rich fibrin in extraction socket healing. The study is novel as it analyzes the effect of platelet-rich fibrin in smoker groups. However, there are still a few points that need to be addressed before the consideration of publication.

1. The paper lacks the rationale for using the Wilcoxon rank test. The authors need to provide it with a specific one.

2. The analysis of histology is not satisfactory. The authors need to include the number of bone lining cells, osteoclasts etc.

 

The quality of English needs to be extensively improved especially for the abstract. Many run-on sentences need to be fixed.

Author Response

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