Is Placement of PRF Effective in Reducing Facial Swelling Following 3M Extractions?

Background: Postoperative swelling and pain are common sequelae following third molar (3M) removal and are typically assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) and linear measurements. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been proposed as an adjunct to reduce these complications. Concurrently, advances in imaging, particularly 3D facial scanning, offer more precise and reproducible methods for evaluating postoperative swelling. The integration of PRF with objective measurement tools may improve assessment and predictability of outcomes following oral surgery. Objective: To evaluate: (1) the effectiveness of PRF in reducing facial swelling after 3M extraction, and (2) the utility of 3D facial scanning as a measurement tool for evaluating swelling. Design: Single-center, split-mouth, randomized clinical trial. Participants: Patients aged 18 to 32 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I at a single academic hospital and oral surgery center between Janua more...