title: Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Fibrin After Mandibular Third Molar Extraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on the healing process of the alveolar socket after surgical extraction of the mandibular third molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and relevant journals were searched using a combination of specific keywords ("platelet-rich fibrin," "oral surgery," and "third molar"). The final search was conducted on November 2, 2015. Randomized controlled clinical trials, as well as controlled clinical trials, aimed at comparing the effect of PRF versus natural healing after extraction of mandibular third molars were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial were included. There were 335 extractions (168 with PRF and 167 controls) in 183 participants. Considerable heterogeneity in study characteristics, outcome variables, and estimated scales was observed. Positive results were generally recorded for pain, trismus, swelling, periodontal pocket depth, soft tissue healing, and incidence of localized osteitis, but not in all studies. However, no meta-analysis could be conducted for such variables because of the different measurement scales used. The qualitative and meta-analysis results showed no significant improvement in bone healing with PRF-treated sockets compared with the naturally healing sockets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of the available evidence, PRF seems to have no beneficial role in bone healing after extraction of the mandibular third molars. Future standardized randomized controlled clinical trials are required to estimate the effect of PRF on socket regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Master Student at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Electronic address: f-alhamed@windowslive.com.
authors.forename: Faez Saleh
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Al-Hamed
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Abdel-Monem
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ehab
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdelfadil
authors.affiliation: Fellow at Orthodontics Department, Orthodontic Graduate Program, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohammed A Q
authors.initials: MAQ
authors.lastname: Al-Saleh
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000502:physiology*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin