A comparative study between two different suture materials in oral implantology

Objective The prospective study compares, in split-mouth design, the use of two different suture materials, silk vs. Teflon-coated, multi-filament braided polyester threads suture. Material and methods Ten edentulous or partially edentulous patients were surgically treated for implant installation. Each side was sutured with either, randomly selected one or the other suture material. Seven days postsurgically, the sutures were removed and three knots per patient and side were collected for microbiological testing. Additionally, a piece of each suture thread was analysed before clinical use to test its susceptibility for bacterial adherence. To evaluate the patient's subjective opinion, a questionnaire based on Visual Analogue Scale had to be filled out by all included patients 1 week after the intervention. Results The results showed a more pronounced plaque accumulation for silk sutures but there was not a statistical difference. The intraoperative handling of the silk sutures was less comfortable and the patient comfort was worse than Teflon-coated polyester suture. Conclusion The bacterial adherence on Teflon-coated polyester suture was slightly inferior than silk suture although it did not show the expected differences. To cite this article:Pons-Vicente O, Lopez-Jimenez L, Sanchez-Garces Ma A, Sala-Perez S, Gay-Escoda C.A comparative study between two different suture materials in oral implantology.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 22, 2011; 282-288.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2010.01993.x.