Breaking Force of Periodontal Suture Materials After Intraoral Exposure

Kurzzusammenfassung

This prospective, six-arm randomized clinical retrieval study was designed to compare the maximum breaking force of three commonly used non-absorbable periodontal suture materials-silk, polypropylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-in sizes 3-0 and 4-0 before clinical use and after 7 days of intraoral exposure following periodontal flap surgery. The study included 120 participants with Stage III Grade B periodontitis requiring periodontal flap surgery. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio to one of six suture material-diameter groups: silk 3-0, silk 4-0, polypropylene 3-0, polypropylene 4-0, PTFE 3-0, or PTFE 4-0. Sutures were retrieved on postoperative day 7 and subjected to laboratory mechanical testing. Maximum breaking force was measured using a universal testing machine and compared with independent unused Day-0 specimens of the corresponding material and diameter. The study aimed to determine the effects of suture material, USP diameter, and exposure condition on maximum breaking force.