Repeated I-PRF and autogenous bone graft in alveolar ridge augmentation: A novel protocol for enhanced bone regeneration

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of recurrent injectable-platelet-rich-fibrin (I-PRF) in conjunction with autogenous bone on gingival thickness (GT), alveolar width, and volumetric bone changes during maxillary alveolar augmentation using cone-beam computer tomograms (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with alveolar defects require bone augmentation. Two patient groups were chosen at random. Group I consisted of 14 patients who received only cortical ramus autogenous bone harvest (control group). Fourteen patients in Group II received autogenous bone grafting in addition to repeated I-PRF. To examine the alveolar ridge width, CBCT was performed before, immediately following, and at 6 and 9 months. Three-dimensional volumetric changes in bone were carried out using the sequence of CBCT image segmentation and 3D superimposition analysis. Results: At 9 months of follow-up, Group II showed significant improvements in GT compared to Group I. Radiographic evaluation of ridge width at 9 months revealed a significant mean increase in ridge width in Group II. There is a notable variation in bone volume between the two groups. Group II’s volumetric measurements increased significantly when compared to preoperative readings at 9 months ( P = .02). Conclusions: Repeated injections of I-PRF improve GT and bone growth. Additionally, it maintains the autogenous bone graft’s integrity throughout the early healing phase.