title: Microbiological analysis of bacterial plaque on three different threads in oral surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suture is the final act of most oral surgery procedures. The quality of healing after the operation depends on its efficiency. Sutures must not cause inflammation - neither directly nor indirectly. The objective of this study is to compare the bacterial colonization on different suture materials after a third molar extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were randomly selected among people going under third molar extraction; they were divided into 3 groups and one suture type was used on each group. After 7 days distal stitches were removed by a single operator, placed in physiologic solution and analyzed after 2 or 3 hours. Patients followed the same postsurgical protocols; materials used were: Ethicon Silk® 4/0, B. Braun Dafilon® 4/0, and B. Braun Safil® 4/0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of cocci and bacilli on the sutures analyzed shows that silk (Ethicon Silk) is the higher level of retention material where monofilament (B. Braun Dafilon) is the lower. There is a difference between monofilament and polyglycolide (B. Braun Safil), as the former is less retentive than the latter, although not significantly so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A less plaque retention, and consequently a fewer bacterial presence, is crucial to minimize the inflammatory process and allow a better tissue healing. Since the capability of brushing and, of course, the final personal hygiene depends on multiple variables, we must use surgical protocols able to minimize the effect of improper cleaning on the healing process: this statement implies the use of low plaque retention materials. The use of monofilament or polyglycolide threads in sutures can help reducing bacterial concentration and therefore promotes a faster and better healing.
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Italian Institute of Stomatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy - dr.marcobucci@gmail.com.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Bucci
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Italian Institute of Stomatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Borgonovo
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Italian Institute of Stomatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Albino
authors: A
authors: Bianchi
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Italian Institute of Stomatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Zanellato
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Italian Institute of Stomatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Dino
authors: D
authors: Re
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D009757:Nylons; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D012494:Sampling Studies; D047011:Silk; D013537:Sutures / Q000382:microbiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons; D047011:Silk; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid