Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

PRP therapy is considered very safe because it uses your own blood, which eliminates the risk of allergic reaction, disease transmission, or immune rejection. Serious complications are rare in routine dental applications. Common short-term effects are limited to mild soreness, bruising, or a small bump at the blood draw site, and slightly more swelling at the surgical site during the first day or two as healing kicks into gear. Because PRP is autologous — meaning it comes from your own body — the safety profile is significantly better than treatments involving donor materials or synthetic products. Patients on blood thinners, those with active infections, or people with certain blood disorders may not be candidates, so a full medical history review at consultation is important. Your oral surgeon will confirm PRP is appropriate for your specific situation.

PRP is made by drawing a small amount of your blood — typically 15 to 60 milliliters, about the same as a routine blood test — and spinning it in a centrifuge for around 10 to 15 minutes. The centrifuge separates the blood into layers, and the platelet-rich plasma layer is drawn off and prepared for use during your surgery. The whole process happens in the office on the same day as your procedure, so there’s no separate appointment or waiting period. Platelets are the cells in your blood most responsible for healing and tissue growth — the concentrated PRP contains three to five times the platelet count of normal blood, delivering a burst of growth factors right where they’re needed. Because the material comes directly from your own body, there’s no risk of rejection or disease transmission, which is one of the main advantages of the therapy.

The blood draw for PRP feels like a routine lab test — a quick pinch when the needle goes in, then mild pressure for about a minute. Most patients say the draw is the least memorable part of the appointment, especially compared to the surgery itself. The amount of blood needed depends on the size of your procedure, but typically ranges from 15 to 60 milliliters, which is a fraction of what’s drawn during a standard blood donation. The draw usually happens right before your surgery so PRP is ready when the surgical site is prepared. Once PRP is applied at the site, you won’t feel anything different from a standard oral surgery recovery — no separate pain or sensation from the PRP itself. In fact, most patients report less post-op discomfort overall when PRP is used, thanks to faster healing at the site.

PRP and BMP therapy are both regenerative treatments, but they work differently and are often used for different situations. PRP concentrates your own blood platelets to accelerate healing at any surgical site, while BMP delivers a lab-produced protein specifically designed to stimulate new bone growth. Most patients need one, not both, and your surgeon will recommend the right option based on your case. PRP is broadly useful — for bone grafting, extractions, implant placement, and soft tissue procedures — because it speeds recovery across the board. BMP is more targeted, used specifically when substantial new bone needs to be grown, such as for significant ridge defects or sinus augmentation. In some complex reconstructions, they can be used together, with BMP driving bone formation and PRP supporting soft tissue healing around it. The choice depends on how much bone regeneration is needed and where.

Most healthy adults undergoing oral surgery are good candidates for PRP therapy, especially for dental implants, bone grafting, complex extractions, or procedures where faster healing is beneficial. A brief health-history review at your consultation confirms whether PRP is right for you. Good candidates generally include patients who want to shorten recovery, those undergoing more complex or multi-stage surgeries, and anyone concerned about post-op infection or delayed healing. PRP may not be recommended for patients with certain blood disorders, active cancers, active infections, those on high-dose blood thinners that can’t be paused, or people with a platelet count too low to produce useful concentration. Age alone doesn’t disqualify anyone — older patients often benefit most because natural healing tends to slow with age. Your surgeon will weigh your medical history, medications, and the specifics of your procedure to make a recommendation.

Yes — PRP is frequently used with wisdom teeth removal and other tooth extractions, especially for surgical extractions or cases where the socket needs to heal well before an implant is placed later. It’s particularly helpful for impacted wisdom teeth, which typically leave larger sockets and longer recovery periods than routine extractions. When PRP is applied to an extraction socket, it can reduce swelling, lower the risk of dry socket, speed soft tissue closure, and support faster bone fill inside the socket. This is especially valuable for patients planning future implants, where preserving the socket structure improves later implant success. PRP can also be combined with socket preservation techniques for even better outcomes. Whether it’s worth adding depends on the complexity of your extraction and your healing history — something your surgeon will discuss at consultation.

PRP can meaningfully shorten early recovery, with most patients experiencing reduced swelling and discomfort in the first few days and faster soft tissue closure at the surgical site within the first one to two weeks. Full bone integration around a dental implant still takes several months, and PRP doesn’t dramatically shorten that longer healing window. The clearest gains from PRP are in the early healing phase — less swelling, faster return to normal eating, lower infection risk, and better wound closure. For deeper bone healing before an implant is loaded, the timeline is more incremental, with peer-reviewed studies showing modest but real improvements in bone density at the implant site. Patients who benefit most from PRP are those undergoing complex surgeries, needing bone grafting alongside their implant, or with any factors that could slow healing. Your surgeon will give you a realistic timeline for your specific case.

PRP therapy is typically considered an elective or adjunctive treatment and is often not covered by standard dental insurance, though some medical insurance plans may cover it in specific cases such as trauma reconstruction or medically necessary bone grafting. Coverage varies widely by insurer and by the primary procedure it’s used with. When PRP is added to a covered procedure like a dental implant or bone graft, the base procedure may be covered while PRP itself is billed separately. Denver Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery can help verify your benefits before scheduling and provide a written cost estimate so you know what to expect. Financing options may also be available for patients who want the benefits of PRP without full upfront payment. Contact the office at 303-341-7151 to discuss your specific insurance situation.

Most patients can fly within 24 to 48 hours after PRP therapy without significant issues, though your surgeon may recommend waiting three to seven days for larger procedures to avoid swelling, bleeding, or increased discomfort during the flight. For travel to higher altitude — common when leaving Denver for the mountains or arriving from lower elevations — the guidance is similar: light exposure is usually fine, but strenuous altitude activity should wait. Cabin pressure changes during flight can occasionally increase mild swelling or throbbing at a fresh surgical site, though this is uncommon after PRP. If you’re traveling to ski or hike at high elevation, plan for a slower first day, stay well-hydrated, and avoid alcohol during initial recovery. Patients flying in from out of state for surgery should build in at least a day of local recovery before returning home. Call the office if you notice unusual pain, bleeding, or swelling before travel.

Denver Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery offers platelet-rich plasma therapy for patients across the Denver metro, Boulder, and Brighton communities. The main office is located at 30 Rampart Way, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80230, and consultations can be scheduled by calling 303-341-7151 or requesting an appointment online. PRP is a specialized regenerative therapy that requires training in blood processing protocols and experience integrating it into oral surgery procedures. The practice serves patients from three Front Range locations for convenient access — visit the Denver, Boulder, or Brighton pages for location-specific details. All three offices are led by experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons with expertise in dental implants, bone grafting, and advanced regenerative techniques including PRP and BMP therapy. New patients can review appointment prep and forms before their first visit.