The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on tooth hole healing after tooth extraction: a systematic review (PRISMA)

Predictable healing of the post-extraction socket remains a clinically relevant challenge, as natural alveolar ridge resorption may significantly reduce bone volume and complicate subsequent treatment planning. Although autologous platelet concentrates have gained broad clinical attention, their effectiveness across different clinical scenarios remains inconsistent, highlighting the need for a structured synthesis of current evidence. This review summarizes the available data on the use of PRP, PRF, L-PRF and A-PRF for socket healing after tooth extraction, addressing their impact on postoperative pain, swelling, soft-tissue healing, and preservation of the alveolar ridge. The search-analytical process included 19 clinical studies, most of which were randomized controlled trials. A majority of reports (78.9%) demonstrated at least one positive clinical outcome associated with platelet concentrates. The most frequently observed benefits included reduction of postoperative pain, accelerated epithelialization, decreased incidence of alveolitis, and, in several studies, improved preservation of bone volume. PRF and its modifications were shown to provide more consistent clinical outcomes than PRP, particularly during early healing phases. However, heterogeneity in centrifugation protocols, variability of study designs and small sample sizes limit the generalizability of findings and hinder the development of uniform clinical recommendations. This review offers clinicians a consolidated understanding of the potential applications of PRP and PRF in post-extraction healing, clarifies the true scope of their clinical benefits, and identifies areas where further high-quality research is required.