Textile Sutures Used in Dental Surgery and their Associated Problems

Abstract

A variety of suture materials are available for primary wound closure following oral surgical procedures. The tissue reactions to the various suture materials used in oral surgical interventions have been analyzed. Databases have been searched relating to cotton, nylon, polyglecaprone 25, polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Polyglactin 910, polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid, silk, surgery, suture, and tissue reaction. An interesting compilation has been done from various reliable sources. A number of investigations have been included. Few studies reported that polyglecaprone 25 had positive effects on wound-healing as compared to silk. More studies reported that silk elicits more intense tissue inflammatory response and delayed wound healing as compared to other suture materials (including ePTFE, polyglecaprone-25, PGA, and nylon). Polyglactin 910 sutures were associated with the development of stitch abscess in one clinical study. A number of studies reported that tissue reactions are minimal with nylon sutures. Tissue reactions to suture materials used for oral surgical interventions may vary depending on the surface properties and bacterial adherence properties of the material.