ReviewCureus2026
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Preventing Alveolar Osteitis Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Platelet-rich fibrin after mandibular third molar extraction: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Oral and maxillofacial surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Article
- Clinical Practices and Attitudes of Dental Practitioners in Managing Alveolar Osteitis: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Yemen.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a common and painful complication following mandibular third molar extraction, often resulting in delayed healing and increased postoperative morbidity. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been proposed as a biologically active adjunct that can enhance socket healing and stabilize postextraction blood clots. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRF in preventing AO after mandibular third molar extraction. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar from database inception to the most recent update. Randomized controlled trials comparing PRF application with no PRF or conventional extraction care and reporting AO incidence were included. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were performed independently using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, and effect estimates were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding was performed using the E-value approach. Seven randomized controlled trials involving 776 extraction sites (388 PRF and 388 control) were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in AO incidence with PRF application (RR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.20-0.55; p < 0.05), corresponding to an approximately 67% reduction in relative risk. Heterogeneity among studies was negligible, and funnel plot inspection, along with Egger's test, suggested a low likelihood of publication bias. The certainty of evidence for the primary outcome was rated as moderate. Sensitivity analysis yielded an E-value of 5.51, indicating the robustness of the observed effect to potential unmeasured confounding. Within the limitations of the available evidence, PRF appears to be a safe and effective adjunct for reducing the incidence of AO following mandibular third molar extraction. Further standardized, high-quality trials are warranted to optimize the clinical protocols and confirm the long-term benefits.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.