Wisdom teeth extractions are a common dental procedure that often requires stitches to help the wound heal. Dissolvable stitches are commonly used and come in different materials, each with its own characteristics. These stitches are designed to dissolve naturally in the body over time, reducing the need for removal by a dentist or surgeon. The stitches that dentists typically use are dissolvable stitches, which include:
| Type of Suture | How its Made | Type of Material | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Gut | Natural | Animal intestines | Yellow/White |
| Plain Gut | Natural | Animal intestines | Yellow/White |
| Chromic Gut | Natural | Animal intestines | Yellow/White |
| Polyglycolic acid | Synthetic | Polymers | Purple/Violet |
| Polydioxanone | Synthetic | Polymers | Purple/Violet |
| Polytrimethylene carbonate | Synthetic | Copolymers | Green |
| Polyglactin 910 | Synthetic | Copolymers | Purple/Violet |
| Glycomer 631 | Synthetic | Copolymers | Purple/Violet |
| Polyglytone 6211 | Synthetic | Copolymers | Purple/Violet |
| Poliglecaprone | Synthetic | Copolymers | Purple/Violet |
Dissolvable stitches can be broadly categorized into three groups: all-natural, synthetic polymers, and synthetic copolymers. These wisdom teeth stitches all have a slightly different look to them, which will be covered in more detail in the articles below.
What do Natural Stitches Look Like?
All-natural sutures, also known as catgut, are made of collagen derived from the small intestine of ruminant animals. These stitches are usually a light yellow/gold colour, which can often be mistaken as white in the mouth.
Natural stitches come in different types, including plain gut, fast gut, and chromic gut, which are distinguished by their color and dissolution time. These sutures dissolve naturally via the body’s proteolytic enzymes (a natural breakdown process) within 5 to 14 days.
What do Synthetic Stitches Look Like?
Synthetic polymer sutures are made of long chains of repeating monomers, forming a long string. Monomers refer to very small molecules that link together in a chain and form polymers—a material with characteristics similar to plastic. These stitches usually come in violet colors.
Polyglycolic acid (Polysyn) and polydioxanone (PDS) are the two types of dissolvable synthetic polymer sutures which dissolve via hydrolysis (breakdown by water) within 90 to 180 days.
What do Synthetic Copolymer Stitches Look Like?
Synthetic copolymer sutures are made of long chains of different polymers stitched together. As a reminder, monomers are very small molecules that link together in a chain to form polymers. Copolymers are a combination of different polymers combined to form one long chain. These stitches come in all sorts of colors, but are usually violet, green, or white.
There are many different synthetic copolymer types, including Polytrimethylene carbonate, Polyglactin 910, Glycomer 631, Polyglytone 6211, and Poliglecaprone. These sutures dissolve via hydrolysis (breakdown by water) anywhere between 1 month to 7 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dissolvable stitches are commonly used in dental procedures such as wisdom teeth extractions. Understanding the different types of dissolvable stitches and their characteristics can help patients prepare for post-operative care and anticipate the healing process. While these sutures dissolve naturally, it is important to follow your dentist or surgeon’s instructions to ensure proper healing and prevent complications.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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