Comparison of platelet rich fibrin and acellular dermal matrix in repairing rabbits′ oral mucosal defects

To investigate the effects of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) on the repair of oral mucosal defects and to provide the basis for soft tissue growth in oral implant operations.

Thirty-six healthy male Japanese big ear rabbits were randomly divided into the PRF group, ADM group, Autograft group (autologous connective tissue transplantation group) and Control group (blank control group); each group contained nine rabbits. Between the midline and the hard palate maxillary incisors, in an 8-mm location preparation and a 10-mm standard mucosa defect, the ADM group, PRF and Autograft group were implanted with ADM, autologous PRF and autologous cornification mucosa, respectively, whereas the control group had wound gauze compression processing at 7, 14, and 21 days to determine the wound healing rate in the area selected by HE staining. The inflammatory grade and average epithelial thickness were observed, and the results were statistically analyzed.

Compared with the control group, the PRF, ADM and Autograft groups had significantly advanced wound healing (P < 0.05). The wound healing degree in the PRF group was similar to that of the ADM group at all time points (P > 0.05). The wound healing degree in the PRF and ADM groups was lower than that of the Autograft group at each time point (P < 0.05). HE staining results showed that compared with the control group, the levels of inflammation in the PRF group, ADM group and Autograft group were reduced, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between the PRF, ADM and Autograft groups (P > 0.05). The epithelial thickness in the ADM group was similar to that in the Autograft group (P > 0.05). The epithelial thickness in the ADM group was higher than that in the PRF group at 7 d and 14 d (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference at 21 d (P > 0.05).

PRF and ADM have similar healing effects in repairing oral mucosa defects, and they can be used as soft tissue augmentation materials instead of connective tissue transplantation.