The Assessment of the Usefulness of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in the Healing Process Bone Resorption

Abstract

The main subject of this research was the use of PRF in dental surgery aimed at preventing changes in alveolar height and width after tooth extraction. Due to the large growth factor content, it seems to be particularly useful in bone loss management starting from the simplest loss occurring after tooth extraction through loss resulting from tooth resection ending with loss caused by large bone cysts. The study was performed on 50 patients. The extraction of two maxillary or mandibular homonymous teeth was carried out in each patient, where PRF was placed in one alveolus while the other alveolus was left empty. Then, the alveoli were surgically managed with a split flap technique. On the extraction day, after 10 days, and after 6 months, the alveolar process was measured, soft tissues healing was assessed, and imaging examinations were analyzed. It was proved that the healing of soft tissues in the PRF group was better. In the PRF group after 6 months from surgery, the newly formed bone had higher grayscale values in volumetric tomography (CBCT). Moreover, the reduced atrophy of the alveolar process at the site of the extracted tooth was proved in this study.

1. Introduction

At present, implantological treatment has become a popular method of tooth replacement. However, to be successful and to satisfy high white and red aesthetic standards, it requires the appropriate amount of bone and keratinized gingiva. Appropriate alveolar process management after tooth loss becomes important for minimizing the reduction of the alveolar process volume, which makes the treatment as inexpensive and non-invasive as possible. Today, atraumatic tooth extraction using periotomes is the gold standard, but it does not prevent the loss of the alveolar process volume entirely. The remodeling and healing of the post-extraction alveolus involve the reduction of width and height of the post-extraction alveolus already in the first 8 days [1,2]. This physiological bone atrophy amounts, on average, to 25%–30% [3] and, according to some authors, atrophy amounting to 40%–60% of the alveolar process volume occurs in 2–3 years [4,5]. The healing of the alveolus is the outcome of the resorption process and neo-osteogenesis, which take place from the outside and the inside of the alveolus and have an impact on the shape and appearance of the alveolar process [6]. Araujo and Lindhe’s research shows that the healing of the alveolus entails mainly bone atrophy from the side of the oral vestibule and that the alveolus is always below the level of adjacent teeth. Cells responsible for bone formation are, in this case, not active enough or there are too few of them [7].

The best material for bone loss regeneration is the autogenous bone obtained either from maxillary or mandibular bone as well as from outside of the oral cavity [8]. Only the autogenous bone and some allogenic materials have osteoinductive abilities. The remaining materials act osteoconductively as a thrombus stabilizer or construction for infiltrating cells [9,10].

In 2001, Joseph Choukroun et al. made an effective attempt to obtain platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) from whole blood [11]. This method is a simple and cheap procedure based on natural biological processes. One of its major advantages is avoiding the use of coagulation factors, bovine thrombin, calcium chloride, or gelling agents. Moreover, it is not harmful to the organism [12]. PRF contains numerous blood platelets as well as cytokines, which are released from the thrombus. However, the most crucial is the platelet-rich fibrin matrix, which is responsible for actual therapeutic potential [13,14,15,16,17]. Standalone cytokines quickly lose their activity, but they have much greater significance in combination with the fibrin matrix. The PRF matrix combined with cytokines demonstrates longer activity, unlike other fibrin glues. The research proved that living platelets contained in PRF were able to release growth factors, i.e., platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (EGF) in the same concentration for 7 days [11,18].

Thus, PRF has found application in dental and maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and chronic wound treatment [11,19,20,21]. Publications over the last few years concerning platelet-rich fibrin include practically all the fields of dentistry. It has been used for treating the perforation of the bottom of the pulp cavity in combination with MTA, multiple gingival recessions, or periodontal diseases [22,23,24,25,26,27].

This study aimed to answer three principal questions:

• Can the insertion of the PRF to the post-extraction socket enhance soft tissue and bone healing?
• How does the insertion of the PRF to the post-extraction socket affect the CBCT measured grayscale values?
• How does the insertion of the PRF to the post-extraction socket affect the post-extraction bone loss?

2. Materials and Methods

A randomized study was performed on a group of patients reporting to the University Hospital Outpatient Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery in Katowice in the years 2011/2012 for the sanitation of the oral cavity. The study was approved by the bioethics committee of the Medical University of Silesia (protocol: KNW/0022/KB1/97/II/10/11).

Based on medical history, physical examination, and additional examinations (i.e., panoramic radiographs and intraoral X-rays), patients meeting the following criteria were qualified for further study.

Inclusion criteria for the study:

• The presence of two maxillary or mandibular homonymous teeth qualified for extraction (teeth with pulp gangrene with or without periapical lesions with a diameter of no more than 1 cm, which cannot be treated conservatively due to the fact of considerable damage to the crowns of the teeth; teeth after the failures and complications of endodontic treatment with considerable damage to the tooth crown);
• The bony walls of the alveolus are intact during extraction and the adjacent teeth are preserved;
• The extraction of two teeth in the same patient comparable concerning surgical procedure in duration;
• The lack of local and general contraindications for tooth extraction;
• Patients without systemic diseases.

Patients with metabolic diseases, active smokers, chronic alcoholics as well as patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy within the head and neck area and patients with chronic periodontal disease were excluded from the study.

2.1. Surgical Procedure

The minimally invasive extractions of two homonymous teeth were carried out under local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine with noradrenaline. After performing anesthesia, venous blood was collected from the cubital fossa in the amount of 18 mL for the incisors, canines, and premolars’ alveoli as well as 27 mL for the molars’ alveoli. The blood was collected in 9 mL vacuum test tubes and centrifuged using the EBA-20 centrifuge at 2700 rpm in accordance with the protocol described in 2001 by Joseph Choukroun.

The lack of anticoagulants allowed for the activation of the majority of platelets and triggered the coagulation cascade in a simple manner. The whole process of slow coagulation and centrifugation resulted in the formation of the fibrin clot containing platelets located in the middle part of the test tube. Platelet-rich fibrin was located between the mass of red blood cells, red base corpuscles (RBCs) at the bottom, and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) at the top [20,28] (Figure 1).

After centrifuging, the PRF clot was removed from the test tube (Figure 2a) and separated from red blood cells (Figure 2b) in such a form that it was inserted into one of the alveoli after homonymous teeth extraction. The study was performed according to the outline included in

Table 1. Study outline.

Teeth Extraction Day	10th Day after the Extraction	6 Months after Extraction
- alveolar width and height measurement with Koehler 6401 caliper	- ARSTH scoring - CBCT and alveolus measurements	- alveolar width and height measurement with Koehler 6401 caliper - CBCT and alveolus measurements - grayscale value measurement on the basis of CBCT

.

After extracting the teeth, the presence of the bony walls of the alveoli was checked by means of the 3182 Kohler periodontal probe. With the aid of the same periodontal and the 6401 Kohler compass, the width and height of the alveolar process were measured. The measurement of the width of the alveolar process was carried out in the transverse dimension using the Kohler compass at intervals of 3 mm counting from the rim of the lowest alveolar lamella (assessed using the 3182 Kohler periodontal probe) to the maximum height of 12 mm (Figure 3).

The height of the alveolar process was measured with the periodontal probe. The auxiliary reference line—the IC line drawn through the top of the buccal cusps of the teeth adjacent to the post-extraction socket was defined for that purpose. The measurement was performed in the midline of the alveolus, and the distance between the IC line and the vestibular alveolar bone was measured. The obtained value was recorded as the HIC distance (Figure 4).

After measuring the width and the height of the alveolar process of one of the post-extraction alveoli, platelet-rich fibrin was inserted so that it filled the alveolus tightly (the study group—Group I). Next, the mucosal flap for covering the alveolus was split with the use of a scalpel with blade number 15 c.

In the case of maxillary alveoli, a rotated palatal flap was used, whereas in the case of mandibular alveoli, a mucosal flap from the oral vestibule was applied. The flaps were prepared in such a way that it was possible to close the wound without tightening the soft tissues. Next, tight surgical wound closure was performed using 6/0 nylon stitches.

The other homonymous alveolus (the control group—Group II) was surgically managed in an analogical manner as on the other side of the dental arch with the difference that PRF was not inserted in the alveolus. After performing measurements, a rotated palatal flap was prepared in the case of maxillary teeth and a mucosal flap from the oral vestibule in the case of the mandible. Tight surgical wound closure was performed using 6/0 nylon stitches.

2.2. Postoperative Care

Patients were not prescribed any antibiotics in the postoperative period. Brushing the teeth with a soft brush at least twice a day excluding the surgical field for the period of 10 days, that is, till the day of stitches removal, was recommended. Over the first postoperative days, that is, up to 10 days, abstaining from food of hard consistency was recommended.

After 10 days from the surgery, the stitches were removed, and the course of the alveoli healing was clinically assessed. The notion of the Assessment Rate of Soft Tissues Healing (ARSTH) was created according to the authors’ ideas and for this study. ARSTH is based on a five-grade scale including the assessment of five factors:

• The appearance of the wound: infected—0 points, clean—1 point;
• Oedema: present—0 points, not present—1 point;
• Discharge from the wound: present—0 points, not present—1 point;
• The tightness of wound closure: wound dehiscence—0 points, tight wound closure—1 point;
• Pain reported by the patient on the VAS scale: 5 or more—0 points, less than 5—1 point.

The patients received maximally 5 points if the wound was clean, without oedema, without discharge, was tight, and the pain was assessed by the patient as less intense than 5 on the VAS scale (Visual Analogue Scale).

Simultaneously, after 10 days from the surgery, the patient was subjected to CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) examination, limited to the area of the post-extraction alveoli using the Kodak 9000 apparatus (Figure 5), and the alveolus width and height were measured.

After 6 months, the measurements of the alveolar process width and height were repeated. The examination was analogical as on the day of tooth extraction.

In addition, 6 months after the surgery, another performance of volumetric CBCT limited to the area of the post-extraction alveoli using the Kodak 9000 apparatus was recommended. During these examinations, the alveolar process in the extraction site and grayscale values in the selected measurement points were measured (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9).

After 6 months from tooth extraction, grayscale values were assessed. To define the points of measurement, the auxiliary reference lines were defined:

• The A line drawn through the apexes of the teeth adjacent to the post-extraction socket;
• The IC line drawn through the top of the buccal cusps of the teeth adjacent to the pos-extraction socket;
• The midline of the post-extraction socket (alveolus).

Then, the two points of grayscale values were defined (Figure 8):

Point (A)

1/3 of the distance between the A line and the IC line following the midline;

Point (B)

At the intersection of the midline and the A line.

3. Results

An analysis of the results was carried out using the PQStat ver.1.4.2.324 statistical package.

The study was conducted on a group of 50 patients including 22 women and 28 men aged from 18 to 59 (Figure 10). The mean age in the study group was 35.68. One hundred tooth extractions were performed in the patients. Molars were the most frequently extracted teeth (54%), more often upper than lower; next were premolars (18%), canines (6%), and incisors (2%). Teeth with gangrenous pulp with considerable damage to the tooth crown (48 teeth) and improperly treated root canals (36) were most frequently extracted. Teeth with complications after improper treatment (16 teeth—including breaking instruments for root canal treatment, perforation of the bottom of the pulp cavity, and perforation of the roots) required surgical intervention less frequently.

3.1. The Assessment of Soft Tissues Healing (ARSTH) for the Alveolar Area (with and without PRF Insertion) Assessed after 10 Days from Tooth Extraction

After 10 days from tooth extraction, more frequent wound infections were observed in the cases of extractions of teeth in which PRF was not inserted in the alveolus (p = 0.0233) (

Table 2. Soft tissue healing assessment in the group of 50 patients performed on the 10th day post-extraction according to the ARSTH scoring scale.

Factor	Group I *		Group II *		McNemar Test
	Number	%	Number	%
Clean wound	48	96.0	41	82.0	Chi2 = 5.14, p = 0.0233
Infected wound	2	4.0	9	18.0
No swelling	37	74.0	32	64.0	Chi2 = 2.29, p = 0.1306
Swelling	13	26.0	18	36.0
No discharge	48	96.0	41	82.0	Chi2 = 5.14, p = 0.0233
Discharge	2	4.0	9	18.0
VAS pain < 5	38	76.0	29	58.0	Chi2 = 4.92, p = 0.0265
VAS pain > 5	12	24.0	21	42.0
Tight wound	48	96.0	44	88.0	Chi2 = 1.50, p = 0.2207
Wound dehiscence	2	4.0	6	12.0

* Group I—alveoli with PRF; Group II—alveoli without PRF.

). Oedema, assessed also on day 10, occurred more frequently in the alveolar area without PRF compared to the side where platelet-rich fibrin was applied, but this difference was of little statistical significance. Pain occurred in Group II, the control group where platelet-rich fibrin was not used, much more frequently in comparison to the study group where PRF was used (p = 0.0265) (Table 2). Wound healing complications in the form of wound dehiscence were found in isolated cases in both groups, but all of them were not statistically significant (Table 2). Therefore, the positive influence of platelet-rich fibrin employment on the process of wound healing can be observed.

3.2. The Results of Mean Values of the Alveolar Process Width and Height Measurements Performed after Tooth Extraction within the Space of 6 Months for Two Different Alveoli in the Same Patient

No statistically significant differences of mean values of the alveolar process width and height (HIC distance) measurements performed directly after tooth extraction were found for the alveoli in which platelet-rich fibrin was not used in comparison to the alveoli where platelet-rich fibrin was applied (

Table 3. The mean values of alveolar width and height in Group I (PRF) and Group II (no PRF) measured 10 days and 6 months post-extraction and the change of values in time.

Variable	Time Post-Extraction	Group *	Descriptive Statistics
			Mean	Standard Deviation	Minimum	Lower Quartile	Median	Upper Quartile	Maximum	Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test
Alveolar width	0 days	I	10.92	2.15	7.0	9.0	11.3	13.0	14.5	Z = 0.83 p = 0.4043
		II	11.01	1.95	7.0	10.0	11.0	12.0	14.0
	6 months	I	9.43	1.74	5.5	8.0	9.8	11.0	12.5	Z = 2.63 p = 0.0085
		II	9.16	1.51	6.0	8.0	9.5	10.0	12.0
HIC	0 days	I	9.05	1.27	7.0	8.5	9.0	10.0	12.0	Z = 0.47 p = 0.6402
		II	9.01	1.21	7.0	8.0	9.0	10.0	12.0
	6 months	I	10.84	1.19	9.0	10.0	11.0	11.5	13.0	Z = 1.17 p = 0.2418
		II	11.01	1.26	8.5	10.0	11.0	12.0	14.5
Width change (bone loss)	-	I	1.49	0.84	0.5	1.0	1.5	2.0	4.5	Z = 3.16 p = 0.0016
		II	1.85	0.86	0.0	1.5	2.0	2.5	4.5
Height change (bone loss)	-	I	1.79	0.61	0.5	1.5	1.5	2.0	3.0	Z = 2.03 p = 0.0426
		II	1.98	0.76	0.5	1.5	2.0	2.5	4.5

* Group I—alveoli with PRF; Group II—alveoli without PRF.

). After 6 months, significant differences concerned primarily the mean values of the alveolar process width and height measurements (p = 0.0085). Larger values were observed in Group I where PRF was used. In the PRF group, mean width measurement amounted to 9.43 ± 1.74 mm, whereas in the group without PRF, it amounted to 9.15 ± 1.51 mm (Table 3). Within the space of 6 months, changes in the mean values of the measurements of the alveoli width were significant (p = 0.0016) (Table 3). In the platelet-rich fibrin group, the average loss of the alveolar process amounted to 1.49 ± 0.84 mm, whereas in the non-PRF group, it amounted to 1.85 ± 0.86 mm (Table 3).

3.3. The Results of Mean Values of Grayscale Value Measurements for Two Alveoli (with/without PRF Insertion) after 6 Months

The highly significant differences in the distribution of grayscale values were found in the volumetric tomography in point A (in 1/3 of the section from the side of the alveolar apex) between Group I, that is the alveoli in which platelet-rich fibrin was used, and Group II, that is the control group in which platelet-rich fibrin was not inserted in the alveolus (p = 0.0097). The higher results of this measurement concerned Group I and amounted to 308.16 ± 128.51, whereas in the non-PRF group, they amounted to 279.4 ± 136.23 (

Table 4. Mean values of GVs in CBCT.

Variable	Group *	Descriptive Statistics
		Mean	Standard Deviation	Minimum	Lower Quartile	Median	Upper Quartile	Maximum	Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test
GV (point A)	I	308.16	128.15	55.0	226.0	282.5	441.0	557.0	Z = 2.59 p = 0.0097
	II	279.40	136.23	75.0	162.0	256.0	390.0	576.0
GV (point B)	I	331.10	131.22	98.0	250.0	301.5	473.0	636.0	Z = 2.59 p = 0.0097
	II	305.54	139.12	87.0	187.0	289.0	428.0	623.0

* Group I—alveoli with PRF; Group II—alveoli without PRF.

).

The highly significant differences in the distribution of grayscale values were also found in the volumetric tomography in point B (at the intersection of the midline of the alveolus and the line drawn through the adjacent teeth apexes) and, again, the higher results of this measurement concerned Group I, that is the alveoli where platelet-rich fibrin was used, and amounted to 333.1 ± 131.22, whereas in the non-PRF group, it was 305.54 ± 139.12 (Table 4).

3.4. The Results of Mean Measurements of Height and Width of the Alveolar Processes of Two Extraction Sites (with and without PRF) in the Same Patient after 6 Months from Tooth Extraction Based on the Analysis of Volumetric Tomography

A statistically significant (p = 0.0148) change in the six months of observation was found concerning the mean values of measurements of the height of the alveolar process with larger bone atrophy for the alveoli in which PRF was not inserted. The atrophy in Group I with PRF amounted to 1.59 ± 0.49 mm, whereas in Group II without PRF, it amounted to 1.85 ± 0.75 mm (

Table 5. Mean alveolar width and height 10 days and 6 months post-extraction (with and without PRF) and changes observed in CBCT examination.

Variable	Time Post-Extraction	Group *	Descriptive Statistics
			Mean	Standard Deviation	Minimum	Lower Quartile	Median	Upper Quartile	Maximum	Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test
Alveolar width	0 days	I	12.53	2.51	8.0	10.5	12.0	14.5	17.5	Z = 1.49 p = 0.1357
		II	12.70	2.32	8.5	11.0	12.0	15.0	18.0
	6 months	I	11.66	2.34	7.0	10.0	11.5	13.0	16.0	Z = 0.51 p = 0.6105
		II	11.52	1.96	8.0	10.0	11.0	13.0	16.0
Alveolar height	0 days	I	9.70	1.95	6.0	8.0	9.5	11.0	14.0	Z = 0.72 p = 0.4692
		II	9.71	1.87	6.0	8.0	9.5	11.0	14.0
	6 months	I	8.09	1.91	4.5	7.0	8.0	9.5	12.5	Z = 1.07 p = 0.2854
		II	7.96	2.00	4.0	6.5	7.8	10.0	12.0
Width change (bone loss)	-	I	0.87	0.60	0.0	0.5	1.0	1.0	3.0	Z = 1.78 p = 0.0749
		II	1.18	1.10	0.0	0.5	1.0	2.0	4.0
Height change (bone loss)	-	I	1.59	0.49	0.5	1.0	1.5	2.0	2.5	Z = 2.44 p = 0.0148
		II	1.85	0.75	0.0	1.5	2.0	2.0	4.0

* Group I—alveoli with PRF; Group II—alveoli without PRF.

). In addition, a statistically significant (p = 0.0479) change in the values of measurements of the width of the alveolar process performed using CBCT was observed. In Group I with PRF, this change amounted to 0.87 ± 0.4 mm and in the non-PRF group, it was 1.18 ± 1.1 mm (Table 5).

4. Discussion

For a long time, many authors have been looking for an ideal way to prevent bone atrophy of the alveolar process after tooth extraction. Hope is pinned on both ideal bone graft substitutes and various surgical techniques. Nevertheless, in light of the contemporary literature, this atrophy reaches values of 40–60% of the volume [29,30]. The preservation of the initial width and height of the alveolar process provides the foundation for later implantation or aesthetic prosthetic works [31,32].

According to Sclar et al., the preservation of the periosteum, without damaging it, while preparing the flap minimizes the loss of the buccal bone lamella [33]. Split flap preparation aimed at covering the alveoli may have a significant influence on alveolar vascularization and, thus, on the preservation of living osteoblasts and their stimulation for bone regeneration. In this study, only platelet-rich fibrin was used for filling of the alveolus. PRF was covered with a flap from the side of the oral cavity proper to avoid incisions from the side of the oral vestibule involving damage to the periosteum and the disturbance of the bone healing process through accelerating bone resorption. Covering platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was aimed at its protection against falling out from the post-extraction alveolus or dissolving. PRF is an autologous and biocompatible material that does not contain any additives. It is cheap and easy to prepare. While performing everyday surgical procedures, it does not take longer than a few additional minutes to collect and centrifuge full venous blood.

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of the PRF application on the healing of the alveolus. The alveoli of two homonymous teeth in the same patient in the presence of the teeth adjacent to the post-extraction alveolus were compared. Many authors who concentrate their research on the prevention of the alveolar process atrophy compare random alveoli [1,4,29,30,34,35]. Provided the patients underwent two homonymous, mandibular, or maxillary teeth extractions, the study groups were selected most comparably. Moreover, patients burdened with systemic diseases as well as patients with addictions were excluded from the study to prevent the disturbance of the bone healing process.

In this study, alveoli healing was observed on the tenth day after surgery. The authors of numerous studies assess the healing process 14 days after the surgery [4,29,31,34]. However, if the assessment of soft tissues healing is too late, it may have a significant influence on the study’s results; since with time, the total healing of tissues in both groups occurs, which was mentioned by Lauren et al. in their publication [35].

The last follow-up examination was performed after 6 months. The majority of authors assess the width and height of the bone in their reports after 6 months when it is thought that the initial period of bone healing and mineralization came to an end [1,35]. However, the assessment of the bone should be performed after its good mineralization, because in the case of poor mineralization it will not be visible in radiological examinations; thus, the assessment of the density and structure of the newly formed bone will be distorted [36,37]. For the assessment of the width and height of the alveolar process, CBCT was used. In the assessment of newly formed bone, GVs were used.

The study was conducted at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 on a group of 50 patients aged from 18 to 59. In the assessment of soft tissues healing, the authors’ assessment rate of soft tissues healing (ARSTH) created for this study was employed. The rate was based on the five-grade scale of the assessment of post-extraction wound healing. The statistical analysis of ARSTH on day 10 after surgery revealed a highly statistically significant difference in results in the study group and the control group. It was demonstrated that healing in the PRF group proceeds faster and with a smaller number of reported complications. The obtained results show that the employment of PRF prevents infections. In the PRF group, wound infections occurred less frequently (4% in Group I (where PRF was used) and 18% in Group II). In addition, wound discharge occurred less frequently, namely, 4% in Group I and as many as 18% of cases in Group II. Moreover, a statistically significant difference in the assessment of pain on day 10 after tooth extraction was demonstrated. Pain occurred in 24% of the cases in Group I (with PRF), whereas in Group II, pain occurred in 42% of the cases. These results confirm that PRF may have an anti-inflammatory effect and prevent infections. This coincides with the expectations for this material. Dohan Ehrenfest, who is the author of numerous publications on PRF, proved the high concentration of not only platelets but also leucocytes in a PRF clot obtained according to Choukroun’s protocol [38,39]. Anti-inflammatory properties and a regulating effect on the immune response were revealed [13,40]. Leukocytes are also responsible for the production of large amounts of VEGF [41]. The additional advantage of using this biomaterial as a separate means of preventing the atrophy of the alveolar process is a faster and less complicated surgery that does not expose the patient to the risk of complications, such as infection, and in the case of using collagen membranes also the increased risk of wound dehiscence [42].

In the conducted study, the measurements of the width and height of the alveolar process were performed directly after tooth extraction, and follow-up examinations were carried out after 6 months, that is after alveolar bone healing and remodeling. Statistically significant differences in horizontal dimensions were found. In the PRF group, the average loss of the alveolar process amounted to 1.49 ± 0.84 mm, and in the non-PRF group it was 1.85 ± 0.86 mm (Table 3). The employment of PRF causes the growth factors contained in it to stimulate cells to differentiate faster and to produce new bone, which leads to the decreased atrophy of the alveolar bone in the transverse dimension. In in vitro studies from 2010, Dohan Ehrenfest et al. [43] proved that the release of growth factors from platelet-rich fibrin is a long-lasting process. It lasts even up to 14 days and has a stimulating effect on all cell types. They proved the release of the five most important growth factors. The concentration of these factors remained at the same level for the first few days and only then did it start to decrease. Leitner et al. published similar results [44]. O’Connell and Carrol’s research proved that the use of bovine thrombin in the course of obtaining PRF may lead to the immediate degranulation of alpha granules and cause the release of all these growth factors [45], therefore leading to the very high concentration of growth factors at the beginning of the healing phase that quickly decrease after a few hours.

A large amount of full value, high-density bone is one of the conditions of aesthetic implant prosthetic reconstruction. The properly structured bone of a higher degree of mineralization is less susceptible to the resorption process; thus, it ensures a higher percentage of successes in implantological treatment. Moreover, it contributes to better long-term effects of the prosthetic treatment [46]. However, the bone will not be of good quality after the healing of the alveolus in each patient. Therefore, the physician’s and patient’s appropriate conduct before deciding on tooth extraction is important. It was proved that the mineral density of the osseous tissue reflects the biological activity of the bone; thus, attempts are being made to assess bone density using such a simple examination as CBCT [47]. Nevertheless, it is proven that CBCT equipment calibration and further conversion steps are needed to reliably assess the bone density in CBCT imaging [48]. Due to the fact that the imaging was performed at a remote facility, this was impossible, which constitutes a limitation of this study. Therefore, the result of the measurements needs to be referenced as GVs rather than Hounsfield units.

On the other hand, there are reports on the correlation between CBCT-derived bone GVs and the subjective tactile sensation of the perceived bone quality during implant placement. Abdulkarim et al. reported on the correlation between CBCT bone GVs and clinical bone quality, which was stronger in the absence of bone grafting material and weaker with graft, especially xenograft [49]. In our research, the grafting material was completely absorbable, so it was not affecting the measurements [50]. Moreover, numerous papers backing a correlation between CBCT-derived bone GVs and primary and secondary implant stability, which is a clinically significant parameter, were published [51,52,53,54,55]. Nevertheless, the literature data on those correlations are ambiguous, which has to be taken into consideration when drawing conclusions [50].

In this study, an attempt to assess the influence of PRF on newly formed bone was made. The authors’ research demonstrated significant differences in the grayscale values of the newly formed bone after 6 months. Differences between the groups in favor of Group I (i.e., the group with PRF in the alveolus) were revealed. This might mean that the use of PRF may improve primary and secondary implant stability at the extraction site. The reason for this may be growth factors being active in the initial phase of healing which leads to the process of osseous bridges formation as well as faster callus formation and its mineralization. It is important for the acceleration of tissue healing that growth factors are present in the wound for a longer period. Thanks to the longer presence, their positive impact first on soft tissue healing and then bone healing is possible because the short-term influence of growth factors in the wound could not contribute to the acceleration and improvement of healing [43].

The accuracy of CBCT examination is good enough to use this method for the thorough analysis of the alveolar bone, and today’s apparatuses make this examination involve very small doses of radiation. In this study, the width and height of the alveolar process were measured after tooth extraction and after 6 months, thereby making it possible to precisely examine the amount of bone. A statistically significant change in the width of the alveolar process was observed. It amounted, on average, to 0.87 ± 0.4 mm in Group I with the use of PRF, that is the average loss amounted to 6.9% of the width of the bone, whereas in Group II without PRF, the average loss amounted to 1.18 ± 1.1 mm, i.e., 9.4%. On the other hand, a statistically significant (p = 0.0148) change in the height of the alveolar process was also revealed within the space of 6 months of observation. In Group I with PRF, the change/loss amounted, on average, to 1.59 ± 0.49 mm (i.e., the loss of 14.1% of the height), while in Group II without PRF, it amounted to 1.85 ± 0.75 mm, i.e., 21.5%. It can be concluded that these results correlate with various previous scientific reports, and bone atrophy in the horizontal and transverse dimensions should be expected [1,2,3,4,5]. In light of the available literature, bone atrophy amounts, on average, to 25–30% after 6 months [1,2]. In this study, bone atrophy amounted to less than that of the abovementioned scientific reports, both in the study group and the control group. However, it is believed that this result was related to the atraumatic technique of tooth extraction together with covering the open alveolus with a flap, which had a significant influence on thrombus formation and its remodeling.

The research conducted revealed the possibility of preventing the atrophy of the alveolar process in the site of the extracted tooth through guided bone regeneration using entirely autologous material such as platelet-rich fibrin. The technique of securing platelet-rich fibrin in the alveolus so that it was as atraumatic as possible for the patient requires further observation and elaboration.

5. Conclusions

Platelet-rich fibrin influences the reduction in the bone resorption process in the healing of the alveolus after tooth extraction. The use of platelet-rich fibrin also improves soft tissues healing and the healing of the post-extraction alveolus.