Platelet-rich fibrin, or PRF, is prepared from a small sample of your own blood taken at the appointment and may be used as an adjunct in selected dental, periodontal and surgical procedures. It is not a treatment in its own right and it is not appropriate for every case. Whether it forms part of your plan depends on the procedure being performed and the clinical judgement of the clinician performing it.
PRF is an autologous material — it comes from you, and nothing is added to it. A small quantity of blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge, which separates it into layers. The layer used is a fibrin clot containing platelets and white blood cells held in a natural fibrin network. Because no anticoagulant or chemical additive is used, that network forms as it would in your own body, which is the distinction between PRF and the earlier platelet-rich plasma preparations. It is worth being clear about what it is not: it is not a drug, not a stem-cell therapy, not a graft material in itself, and not something that replaces the procedure it accompanies. It is a biological adjunct used alongside surgery.
The blood draw happens at your appointment, immediately before the procedure, because PRF has to be used fresh — typically within a short window of being spun. The volume taken is comparable to a routine blood test and is drawn from the arm in the usual way. It is then centrifuged in the clinic, and the resulting clot is either used as it is, compressed into a membrane, or cut into fragments and mixed with graft material, depending on what the procedure calls for. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent away. If needles are difficult for you, say so in advance — it is a short additional step but it is an additional needle, and that matters to some people.
PRF is most often considered alongside procedures where a surgical site is being closed or grafted: extraction sockets, particularly where the site is being preserved for a future implant; bone grafting and sinus augmentation; implant placement in selected cases; periodontal surgery where a bone defect is being treated; and soft-tissue procedures including some gum grafting. The decision is made procedure by procedure rather than applied routinely. In many straightforward cases it adds nothing that the procedure does not already achieve, and in those cases we do not use it. Where Dr. Ali Mehdi recommends it, the reason specific to your case will be explained.
PRF is an area of genuine and ongoing clinical research, and the published evidence varies considerably by procedure — stronger for some applications than others, and still developing in several. You will find clinics online making confident promises about faster healing and better outcomes across the board. We are not going to do that, because the evidence does not support a blanket claim and you deserve a straight answer rather than a sales one. What we will tell you is what PRF is, why it is being suggested for your particular procedure if it is, what the current thinking is for that application, and what happens if you would rather not have it. Declining PRF does not compromise the treatment it would have accompanied.
Extraction sockets being preserved for future implant treatment, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, selected implant placements, periodontal surgery treating a bone defect, and some soft-tissue and gum grafting procedures. It is considered case by case rather than used routinely.
Ask why it is being recommended for your specific procedure. It is a fair question anywhere, and you should get a case-specific answer rather than a general one.
All prices in CAD · starting prices
All prices are starting prices and may vary depending on case complexity, treatment requirements, materials and other clinical factors. Final treatment costs are confirmed following consultation and treatment planning. Prices effective September 2026.
PRF is not priced as a standalone treatment. Because it is used as an adjunct within another procedure, it is confirmed as part of the overall treatment plan for that procedure, in writing, before treatment begins.
PRF is quoted within the plan for the surgery it forms part of — the extraction, graft, sinus lift or periodontal procedure — rather than as a separate line item you decide on independently.
Where a procedure does not call for it, it is not included and not charged for. Where it is recommended, the reason specific to your case is explained before you agree to it.
If you would prefer not to have it, the procedure proceeds without it and is quoted accordingly. Declining does not compromise the treatment.
Periodontal treatment is covered by most dental plans, though many apply an annual maximum that a full course of treatment can exhaust. We can provide a written treatment plan with procedure codes so you can confirm your own coverage and, where it helps, stage treatment across benefit years. Patient financing is available.
Oral Surgery and Implants
Dr. Ali Mehdi brings over 15 years of experience in oral and implant surgery, with a focus on advanced implant dentistry and complex full-mouth rehabilitation. From routine oral surgery to advanced bone grafting and full-arch implant treatment, his approach combines surgical experience, digital technology, and individualized care.
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BDS, EDA, DABOI, MSc, Cert. Prostho, PhD
Board-Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics in Canada and Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology, with extensive experience in prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
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General Dentist │ MSc in Periodontics
General dentist with a Master of Science in Periodontics, prior Assistant Professor experience and clinical interests in periodontal treatment, implants and family dentistry.
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Dentist
Dentist with a Master's degree completed in Australia, focused on ethical, personalized care and helping patients make informed decisions about treatment.
View ProfilePlatelet-rich fibrin is prepared from a small sample of your own blood, spun in a centrifuge at the appointment. The layer used is a fibrin clot containing platelets and white blood cells. Nothing is added to it — no anticoagulant and no chemical additive — which distinguishes it from earlier platelet-rich plasma preparations.
PRF is not priced as a standalone treatment. It is used as an adjunct within another procedure and is confirmed as part of the overall treatment plan for that procedure, in writing, before treatment begins.
The published evidence varies by procedure and is still developing in several applications, so we do not make a blanket claim about it. Where PRF is recommended for your case, the reasoning specific to that procedure will be explained to you.
Yes. A volume comparable to a routine blood test is drawn from the arm immediately before the procedure, because PRF has to be prepared and used fresh. If needles are difficult for you, mention it in advance.
Because it is made from your own blood with nothing added, there is no question of rejection or of reacting to a foreign material. The practical considerations are those of any blood draw. Certain medical conditions and medications are relevant, which is why your medical history is reviewed beforehand.
No, though they are related. Platelet-rich plasma preparations use anticoagulants during processing; PRF does not, so the fibrin network forms naturally. They are different preparations with different handling and different literature behind them.
Yes. PRF is an adjunct, not a requirement. If you would rather not have it, the procedure goes ahead without it and is quoted accordingly. Declining does not compromise the treatment it would have accompanied.
No. It is considered procedure by procedure. In many straightforward cases it adds nothing the procedure does not already achieve, and in those cases it is not used.
Patients travel to us from White Rock, South Surrey, Surrey, Langley, Delta and across the Fraser Valley, and we accept periodontal referrals from dentists throughout the Lower Mainland. Our team also speaks Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Book a consultation at Apple Dental Specialists in White Rock. If PRF is appropriate for the procedure you need, you will be told the reason specific to your case — and if it is not, you will be told that too.
