Evaluation of Chlorhexidine-Coated Suture Material: A Pilot Study

• Published in: International dental journal Vol. 74; p. S47
• Main Authors: Selman, Ayşe Ege, Yilmaz, Mustafa, Karaduman, Burcu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2024
• ISSN: 0020-6539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.07.713

This triple-blind split-mouth study aimed to compare wound healing, ease of handling, and patient comfort in implant surgery utilizing chlorhexidine-coated poly(glycolide-co-L-lactide) suture (CCS) material and its non-coated counterpart (NCS). Six edentulous or partially edentulous patients were surgically treated for implant installation. Each surgical site was randomly allocated to either the CSS or NCS group. Intraoperative manipulation of sutures was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and incision length was documented during surgery. The ease of suture removal and post-removal pain intensity were evaluated using VAS on the 10th day following surgery. Pain levels were further assessed using VAS, and the Early Healing Index (EHI) was employed to evaluate soft tissue healing on the 3rd, 14th, and 45th days post-operatively. While observing a notable improvement within each group upon a comparison of intra-group EHI scores (p<0.05), the outcomes across inter-group evaluations of total EHI scores in all post-operative follow-up periods were similar (p>0.05). Furthermore, no differences were observed between the groups in the VAS scores regarding intraoperative manipulation, ease of suture removal, post-removal pain intensity, or post-operative pain (all with p>0.05). The findings of the present study suggest a comparable level of wound healing, as well as ease of handling and patient comfort, between the two suture materials. The cost-benefit ratio should be evaluated, and both clinical efficacy and financial sustainability should be considered in the decision-making process.