The influence of application of concentrated growth factors on post-operative complications – in vivo split-mouth study

Introduction
New methods of tissue regeneration revealed a new preparation called CGF – concentrated growth factors. CGF belong to the group of platelet-reach plasma preparations, obtained by blood collecting and its centri­fugation.

Objectives
The aim was to evaluate the influence of CGF application in post-operative soft tissue and bone defects on post-operative complications and wound healing.

Material and methods
The research was conducted in twenty patients with a symmetric single tooth (single or multi-root) qualified for extraction. On one side of the dental arch, the post-operative region was filled with CGF material, while on the other side it was left to heal by standard primary intention. Pain, swelling, alveolar osteitis, use of antibiotics, analgesics intake and wound healing were evaluated in the post-operative period.

Results
The risk associated with the occurrence of pain classified higher on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) than the given category increased 3.4 times if the alveolus was not filled with CGF (p < 0.05). The risk of swelling on a given day after surgery dropped about 44 times when CGF was applied (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05). In cases where the alveolus was filled with CGF, the use of the membrane reduced the risk of edema by 7.5 times in the seven-day period after surgery. Filling the alveolus with CGF resulted in a 5.7-fold decrease in the risk of having to use antibiotics after tooth extraction (p < 0.01). The possibility for complete healing of the alveolus up to the seventh day after surgery was about 5.5 times lower when the alveolus was not filled with CGF (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
The filling of a post-operative defect with CGF reduces the frequency and intensity of post-operative pain, swelling, antibiotic therapy intake and the occurrence of facial edema, which improves the quality of life in the post-operative period.