Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Rate of Canine Retraction: A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial

The main concern of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment is the prolonged duration of treatment. Various measures have been introduced in the field of orthodontics to accelerate tooth movement. Tooth acceleration can be carried out by pharmacological and surgical methods; among them, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a minimally used method that has beneficial effects on skin, bone, and musculature. To understand its effect on the rate of tooth movement, this study aims to evaluate the effect of PRP therapy on the retraction rate in a split-mouth study design. Materials and methods: A split-mouth study was conducted on 30 patients requiring bilateral extraction of upper first premolars. PRP was prepared and injected into the alveolar mucosa, distal to the canine on experimental sides, with the contralateral sides acting as a control side. Canine retraction was started on the same day of PRP injection. Retraction was started using NiTi closed coil springs on both sides. The amount of canine retraction was measured and compared between both sides on 0 day, 21 days, and 42 days.

The results showed the mean rate of canine retraction in group PRP was 5.66±0.51, 4.50±0.54, and 3.16±0.40, respectively, at 0 day, 21 days, and 42 days, with a statistically significant difference between the control group (p<0.001). Increased tooth movement was observed on the experimental side compared to the control group.

PRP injections are a minimally invasive procedure and a safe approach for accelerating canine retraction and reducing overall treatment time. PRP can be used as an adjunct for accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement.