In most general dental practices, the only oral surgery service offered is tooth extraction. Some still don’t even provide this. This is not the case at McKinney Dentist. Not only do we offer basic oral surgery procedures, like simple extractions, we also remove wisdom teeth, place dental implants, and do many more complex regenerative procedures, like gum and bone grafting.
These things are often unpleasant things to have to think about undergoing, but McKinney Dentist uses some special tools, made by the patient’s own body, to help speed and ease healing. These tools are called growth factors. Here’s what they are and how they help you.
The Science Behind Growth Factor Healing
There are basically 3 types of blood cells in our bodies. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout our body. White blood cells (there are many types of these) fight infections. Platelets are involved in blood clotting and wound healing. It’s these platelets that hold the growth factors that we are interested in.
Human growth factors are proteins that are responsible for wound healing and regeneration, along with new growth of tissue. They regulate the growth and different functions of our cells. There are many different kinds, but all play an important role in healing.
Wound healing has 3 phases:
- The initial phase is the body’s response to an injury– sending out a signal and recruiting the cells necessary to begin repair.
- The second phase involves the actual beginning of repair that the body does. This is where new cells start to form that will later turn into each of the different types of tissue.
- The final phase is where everything matures and settles in to return to normal. The growth factor’s greatest influence is on the first two phases, which ultimately effects the final phase.
How it Works
On the day of the procedure, a small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn. This is then placed in a centrifuge (a machine that spins really fast like the crazy amusement park ride that makes you dizzy), which separates the different blood cell types into different layers.
The layer that has the platelets is then removed and the platelets are activated. This activation releases all of the growth factors from the cells, which is very concentrated. The resulting product can then be used in the tooth socket, around the implant, or in the gum or bone graft. All of this is done at the McKinney dental practice.
The first thing the growth factor does is signal the body to draw more growth factors to the area. These reduce the bad kind of inflammation that causes pain. They also recruit new blood vessel growth, which is vital to healing and new cell growth. Then, the second phase begins with a big head start. New tissue (gums, bone, collagen) starts to form much quicker. What this all means to the patient is a shorter and easier recovery time.
Come See Dr. Jeff Lynch at McKinney Dentist for Your Procedure
At McKinney Dentist, Dr. Jeff Lynch is one of the very few in the DFW area that uses these to help his patients obtain faster results and better healing. When used in conjunction with implant placement, gum grafting, and bone regeneration, these growth factors give great results, with less swelling, less pain, and quicker recovery. Studies have also shown that this decreases the potential for postoperative infections. All good news!
If you or someone you know needs dental implants, or any of the other services that your body’s growth factors can be used to help you heal, contact the friendly people of McKinney Dentist, and you too can benefit from another of modern dentistry’s great medical advances.