Is injectable platelet-rich fibrin really effective in alveolar osteitis? a randomised controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar osteitis(AO) is an inflammatory and painful condition that occurs due to distruption of the fibrin matrix within the extraction socket following tooth extraction. This study investigates the effectiveness of I-PRF in reducing pain in AO patients compared to conventional treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study included patients experiencing localized AO treated at the Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic between October 2024 and February 2025. Sixty patients diagnosed with AO were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group (Group 1) received standard treatment consisting of socket curettage followed by saline irrigation. The I-PRF group (Group 2) received I-PRF application after curettage and irrigation. Pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on postoperative days 3 and 7. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients (28 males, 32 females) aged between 19 and 68 (mean 37.40 +/- 12.81). There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS scores between the groups (p>0.05). On postoperative day 7, the I-PRF group showed a significant reduction in VAS scores compared to the control group (1.27 vs. 2.27, p<0.05). Our results show that I-PRF significantly reduces pain levels, offering a promising alternative to traditional therapies. CONCLUSION: I-PRF significantly reduces pain in AO patients compared to conventional treatment. These findings suggest that I-PRF could be a valuable addition to clinical practice, but further studies are needed to confirm its long-term effectiveness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov Registration ID NCT06761001. Registered 30/12/ 2024- Retrospectively registered.