Investigation of the effectiveness of different suture materials used in impacted mandibular third molar extraction on wound healing and clinical features.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the physical and clinical efficacy of different suture materials used following impacted third molar surgery.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent mandibular third molar extraction and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of six types of sutures were evaluated: silk, PGLA, PGLA-c, PET, PTFE, and PGCL. Wound healing, pain, and suture-related factors such as ease of manipulation, ease of removal, knot security, and plaque accumulation were evaluated.

RESULTS

Sixty-two teeth in 58 patients (20 males, 38 females) with a mean age of 19.87 ± 4.25 years were included. No statistically significant differences were observed among sutures in terms of wound healing, ease of manipulation, and pain, whereas statistically significant differences were observed regarding knot security (P .001), plaque accumulation (P .001), and ease of removal (P = .017). After 1 week, the highest knot security was observed in the PTFE suture, and the lowest was observed in the PGLA suture. Silk suture was found to be the easiest to remove compared to other materials.

CONCLUSIONS

With the data gathered from this study, it can be concluded that suture materials used in impacted third molar surgery have a limited effect on wound healing and pain; however, they show clinically significant differences in terms of knot security, plaque accumulation, and ease of suture removal.