Reduce Pain, Eliminate Clicking, and Improve Movement
PRP, or plasma-rich plasma therapy, has been upgraded, so physicians and dentists can now use PRF, or platelet-rich fibrin therapy. In addition to being rich in platelets, which aid in the regeneration of muscle and bone tissues, PRF features nutrients and proteins that further enhance treatment efficacy. This low-risk, high-reward treatment option uses the patient’s blood, so compatibility is never an issue.
How does PRF work?
Simply put, PRF contains platelets, which attract and activate stem cells to divide. Stem cells are unspecialized and can take on the duties of any cells in the body; they also have self-renewal ability. So, PRF regenerates bones, muscles, and other tissues.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
These are the steps we’ll perform during your PRF appointments:
- Draw patient’s blood
- Centrifuge the blood
- Extract plasma and white blood cells
- Inject plasma and white blood cells into the TMJ
The Results of PRF for TMD Treatment
- Regeneration of muscle and bone in your TMJ
- Restored joint mobility
- Alleviation or reduction of pain and other symptoms
If PRF can delay or eliminate your need for continued pain medications or surgery and the risks are minimal, why not try it?
Post-Treatment Instructions
Compared to traditional PRP therapy, PRF comes with minimal procedure discomfort, less blood is required, and the process and recovery are fast.
Before your PRF treatment, drink plenty of water and eat a light meal, nothing heavy. Also, absolutely do not take NSAIDs one full week before your appointment, because they can cause bleeding from the injection site.
After treatment, it’s not too unusual for our anesthetic to interfere with the ability to move your eye, eyelid, and eyebrow on the treated side of your face. This sensation will subside.
Expect to feel some localized soreness at the injection sites. Take extra-strength Tylenol as directed to reduce pain and inflammation.
Don’t expose your jaw to water (bath, shower, sauna, swimming, hot tub, etc.) for 48 hours following the injection.
Change your dressing as needed after the first 24 hours after treatment, and apply antibiotic ointment to the injection sites during dressing changes.
Your jaw may not function properly for three days to a week. Begin our recommended exercises as soon as you regain the ability to move your jaw. However, do not overexert the jaw joints. Exercises should not cause pain.
Apply ice on a towel, over the injection site to reduce swelling. Use a 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off schedule.
Bruising is to be expected, but will subside in a few days.
If you wear a TMJ splint, wear it 24 hours a day for three days after PRF therapy. Then resume nightly wear.
Your upper and lower teeth may not feel like they fit together correctly until healing is complete. Fluid build up in the TMJ causes this side effect.
How often is PRF needed to maintain results?
In most cases, a patient needs one to three treatments spaced two to three months apart. Because PRF has few side effects and low risk, patients can have as many treatments as they like.
Call Now for Your PRF for TMD Consultation
To find out if PRF is an appropriate treatment for your TMJ pain, Call Napa Family Dental at 505.323.7700 or Rio Rancho Smiles at Call: 505.994.9693 and schedule a comprehensive TMJ evaluation. We use cutting-edge technology so that you’ll receive an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan that will eliminate or greatly reduce your TMJ pain and other symptoms.