Role of Platelet-rich Plasma in the Healing of Impacted Third Molar Socket: A Comparative Study on Central India Population

Aim The aim of the study was to compare the healing and osseous regeneration of mandibular third molar extraction sockets with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with the evaluation of clinical objectives such as pain, swelling, trismus, soft tissue healing, pocket depth distal to second molar and radiological evaluation of the bony density in the postextracted third molar socket. Materials and methods In this prospective study, 100 patients were selected by the random sampling method from the outpatient department of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the year 2016-2017. Patients were equally allocated into intervention (transalveolar extraction followed by PRP placement) and nonintervention (transalveolar extraction without PRP placement) group as group I and group II, respectively, and evaluation parameters were considered accordingly. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 15.0 (IBM, USA) statistical analysis software. Results The pain score of patients of group I (non-PRP) was found to be higher as compared to group II (with PRP). Mean trismus of patients of group II was found to be higher than that of group I at postoperative day 7, but this difference was not found to be statistically significant. Swelling at T-Sn (Tragus-Subnasale) and T-Pog (Tragus-Pogonion) was higher among patients of group I as compared to group II. Healing in group II was two to three times faster than group I. Healing among patients of group I and group II was found to be statistically significant. The mean pocket depth of patients of group I was found to be significantly higher than that of group II at follow-up of 1 and 2 months. The bone density of patients of group II was found to be significantly higher than that of group I at 3 months and 6 months follow-up. Conclusion The procedure of PRP preparation is simple and cost-effective, and can be prepared at the point of care. It had a significant impact on the postoperative healing of the third molar socket. Clinical significance The use of PRP application increases the bone density, healing process, and improvement in the pain and swelling, and there was a definite reduction in trismus and periodontal probing depth after the impacted mandibular wisdom teeth extraction.