While healing can be painful in the days immediately following wisdom teeth removal, there are certain complications that can be avoided with advanced techniques. Dry socket is one of these complications that can be avoided using the patient’s own Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).
What is a Dry Socket? A dry socket is a temporary condition that can occur during the healing process after wisdom teeth tooth removal. When you have a tooth removed, a blood clot forms in the socket where your wisdom tooth used to be. During the healing process, the clot acts as a barrier to protect the nerves in your mouth. If the clot comes out early, it can’t protect those nerves from things like saliva and air, causing irritation and pain. protecting nerves in your mouth. from things that cause irritation and pain, such as saliva and air. If the clot comes out early, it leaves nerves exposed to saliva and air causing irritation and pain. It is a condition more common in women and smokers.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma? PRP is a patient’s blood enriched with extra platelets from another sample of the same patient’s blood. While blood is mainly a liquid called plasma, there are also solid components as well, including red cells, white cells, and platelets. PRP is liquid plasma with a higher concentration of platelets and growth factors that speed healing and decrease post-op pain. Dry socket can be dramatically decreased with the use of PRP.
Where does PRP come from? PRP is made by special processing of the patient’s own blood. A small volume of blood is drawn just before the tooth extraction procedure and is placed in two test tubes. The tubes are then put in a centrifuge that separates the blood’s components. The plasma layer, now separated, is removed from the centrifuge and then placed in the socket left after removing the wisdom tooth has been removed.
How does PRP Help with Dry Socket? PRP can decrease the incidence of dry socket and its symptoms, speed up the healing process, and reduce pain.
PRP is great for preventing dry sockets and enhancing the recovery process following wisdom teeth extraction. Dry socket is a painful complication and Waco Surgical Arts can help you avoid it. Contact us today to learn more about our wisdom teeth removal services and PRP.
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