title: Healing of Postextraction Sockets Preserved With Autologous Platelet Concentrates. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The true benefit of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) for enhancing the healing of postextraction sites is still a matter of debate, and in recent years several clinical trials have addressed this issue. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an APC adjunct in the preservation of fresh extraction sockets.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search was performed on Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Only controlled clinical trials or randomized clinical trials were included. Selected articles underwent risk-of-bias assessment. The outcomes were complications and adverse events, discomfort and quality of life, bone healing and remodeling assessed by histologic and radiographic techniques, and soft tissue healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three comparative studies were included. Nine articles had a parallel design and 24 had a split-mouth design. Twenty studies were considered to have a low risk of bias and 13 were considered to have a high risk. Overall, 1,193 teeth were extracted from 911 patients. Meta-analysis showed that soft tissue healing, probing depth at 3 months, and bone density at 1, 3, and 6 months were statistically better for the APC group. Qualitative analysis suggested that APCs might be associated with a decrease in swelling and trismus. However, no relevant difference among groups was found for probing depth at 1 month, incidence of alveolar osteitis, acute inflammation or infection, percentage of new bone, and indirect measurement of bone metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APCs should be used in postextraction sites to improve clinical and radiographic outcomes such as bone density and soft tissue healing and postoperative symptoms. The actual benefit of APCs on decreasing pain in extraction sockets is still not quantifiable.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan; Dental Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Fabbro
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Research Centre in Dental Sciences (CICO), Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; PhD Candidate, Departamento de Patología i Terapeútica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: cristina.bucchi@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucchi
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan; Dental Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lolato
authors.affiliation: Visiting Professor, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan; Dental Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corbella
authors.affiliation: Visiting Professor, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan; Dental Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Testori
authors.affiliation: Academic Researcher, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan; Dental Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taschieri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult