Evaluation of the Effects of Silk and Polyester Suture on Postoperative Complications

Overview

Some undesirable complications such as pain, swelling, trismus, paresthesia, hematoma, infection and, albeit rare, fractures may occur after lower impacted wisdom tooth surgery. More effective wound closure methods with fewer complications have positive effects on postoperative recovery. Suturing is the most commonly used wound closure technique after lower impacted wisdom tooth surgery. Suturing, which is the last step of the operation, contributes to wound healing in order to reposition and stabilize the tissue components and to control bleeding. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of silk and polyester sutures used in wound closure techniques, which are frequently used in lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery.

This randomized, single-blind, split-mouth study was carried out on 30 patients who applied to Van Yuzuncu Yıl University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery. Silk suture was used on one side of the patients and polyester suture was used on the other side. When the patients first applied to the clinic, their anamnesis was taken and panoramic images were taken after clinical evaluations were made. Evaluations were made with preoperative face measurements (for evaluation of swelling), maximum mouth opening (for evaluation of trismus) and periodontal measurements for all patients. The mentioned measurements and evaluations were repeated on the 2nd and 7th postoperative days. In addition, postoperative pain was evaluated with the VAS scale. The same surgical procedure was performed by the same surgeon for all patients. After local anesthesia (2ml of 80 mg Articaine hydrochloride + 0.02mg Epinephrine bitartrate) a 3-corner flap containing the vertical incision passing through the mesial of the number 7 was lifted, the bone removed under saline cooling and the teeth were separated when needed. Afterwards, the extraction sockets will be irrigated with saline to control bleeding, and the area is closed primarily with silk or polyester suture material.