Dental Sutures

Dental sutures are used to properly close a wound after surgical procedures. Suturing a wound secures the surgical flaps to promote healing. The selection of the proper type and size of dental suture is very important to avoid incomplete healing and reduce the production of scar tissue. There are a variety of dental sutures available for whatever dental surgical procedures are performed. Some characteristics to look for when choosing sutures are proper tensile strength, tissue biocompatibility, minimal knot slippage and ease of use. Resorbable or absorbable sutures are convenient for the patient; some are of biological origin such as gut sutures and chromic gut sutures, while others are synthetic such as Polygycolic sutures. Resorbable sutures may not be recommended for patients with a low intraoral pH. Non-absorbable sutures such as Nylon, PGA, Polybutester, Polyester, Polypropylene and silk must be removed by a clinician approximately one week after placement. Depending on the surgical wound and procedure, a variety of dental sutures may be applicable. Be sure to choose the appropriate dental suture for each patient.