EFFICACY OF PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN (PRF) IN THE HEALING OF THIRD MOLAR EXTRACTION SOCKETS: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) has been widely used as an adjunctive therapy in third molar extractions due to its potential to enhance healing and reduce postoperative complications. This study aimed to analyze the scientific evidence published between 2021 and 2026 regarding the effectiveness of PRF in healing following third molar extractions. This is an integrative literature review conducted according to the recommendations of Whittemore and Knafl and the PRISMA 2020 checklist. The search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, including studies published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, such as randomized clinical trials, prospective studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The results indicated that PRF significantly reduces postoperative pain, edema, trismus, and the incidence of alveolar osteitis, in addition to promoting soft tissue healing. Regarding bone regeneration, the findings are promising; however, they remain inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of PRF protocols and evaluation methods. It is concluded that PRF is a safe, low-cost biological alternative with the potential to optimize recovery after third molar extractions, although further multicenter studies with standardized protocols are needed to strengthen the available scientific evidence.