Introduction: Growth factors may play a prominent role in wound healing. Concentrating these mediators and applying them to healing osseous or soft tissue may accelerate the process and improve the quality of the healing tissues. Methods of collecting and concentrating autologous platelets have been developed. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is a technique that concentrates platelets and releases their growth factors when applied to healing tissues. There are some positive data about the effects of PRP on hard‐ and soft‐tissue healing, but there is also some literature that shows minimal or no effect. Fibrin sealants undergo a different preparation procedure than PRP and tend to concentrate fibrinogen rather than platelets. They can be applied to either hard or soft tissue. Studies of these agents are also conflicting and some show positive results, whereas others show minimal effect. A third technique is plasma‐rich growth factors (PRGFs). Like PRP, this preparation concentrates platelets but differs from PRP in that no leukocytes are included. Studies support its use to improve hard‐ and soft‐tissue healing, but these articles are primarily case reports.
Case Presentations: Pictures of two cases are shown in Figures 2 through 5. One shows the use of PRP with ridge augmentation, whereas the other demonstrates the use of PRP with root coverage.
Conclusion: All of these agents, PRP, fibrin sealants, and PRGF, need additional study to determine the best indications to obtain a predictable wound healing benefit.