Histologic comparison between platelet-rich plasma and blood clot in regenerative endodontic treatment: an animal study

Abstract

Introduction: In regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) for immature permanent tooth, better treatment results could be obtained by applying platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as the scaffold rather than the blood clot. The goal of this study was to compare the histologic differences between using PRP and blood clot in RET.

Methods: Three 6-month-old beagles each carrying 9 premolars with double root canals were randomly assigned to the PRP group, blood clot group, or negative control group. All experimental teeth suffered apical periodontitis, and RET was performed. In the blood clot group, bleeding was induced from the periapical tissues to fill the canal space. In the PRP group, autologous PRP was injected into each root canal. The animals were sacrificed 3 months later. Histologic sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Statistical analysis was performed by the Fisher exact test, with the significance set at 0.05.

Results: With the ingrowth of cellular cementumlike tissues, the canal wall was thickened, and the apical apex was closed in both the PRP and blood clot groups. Cementocytelike cells were present in the newly formed tissues. Meanwhile, no statistical difference was found in both experimental groups for the average percentage of apical closure, new tissue formation, and pulplike tissue formation. Noticeably, a large number of inflammatory cells were present in some root canals in both groups although the postoperative radiograph revealed the disappearance of periapical radiolucency.

Conclusions: PRP application could be an option for clinical cases in which little or no bleeding were found when irritating the apical tissue during RET.

Keywords: Animal study; blood clot; immature permanent tooth; platelet-rich plasma; regenerative endodontic treatment.