Evaluating the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma on orthodontic tooth movement rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on acceleration of the orthodontic tooth movement and assess the evidence based on the available literature.

Methods

The trial was registered and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled studies of PRP on the rate of tooth movement. The search was restricted to articles published in English between January 2000 to 31 December 2023. The search was completed by two reviewers independently and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) and meta-analysis was performed. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was done to determine the certainty of evidence.

Results

Thirteen studies were included in the systematic review and 10 were included in the quantitative analysis. A random-effects model for meta-analysis of seven studies evaluating the rate of canine retraction revealed a statistically significant increase in the rate of orthodontic tooth movement of 0.38 mm/month in 1 month (121 patients; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–0.49; I² = 35%; P < 0.001) which decreased to 0.09mm/month in the fourth month (80 patients; 95% CI 0.02–0.17; I² = 0%; P < 0.02). Three studies that considered en masse retraction revealed a mean difference of 0.36mm over 3 months (40 patients; 95% CI −0.23 to 0.94; I² = 74%; P < 0.23).

Conclusions

The study suggests that PRP application can accelerate tooth movement, but its effects decreased over 4 months. The results should be interpreted cautiously due to the study's inherent limitations.