Silk and polyglycolic acid in oral surgery: a comparative study.

The inflammatory reaction caused by 2 different suture materials, black silk and polyglycolic acid, was evaluated 8 days after application and permanence in the oral environment. A randomized sample of 55 patients, aged 9 to 76, who had undergone oral urgery was examined. The suture materials (30 black silk and 25 polyglycolic acid), soon after removal, were placed in sterile containers and transferred to the laboratory. A bacterial count was carried out and the sutures were observed under light microscope (x100 magnification) to indirectly evaluate the inflammatory reaction. All patients were recommended to properly disinfect the wound with a 0.2% chlorhexidine solution. The inflammatory reaction of gingival tissues was lower for polyglycolic acid compared to silk sutures. However, the wound conditions, evaluated 8 days after surgery, were acceptable in patients treated with both silk and polyglycolic acid sutures. The use of chlorhexidine solution did not significantly affect the presence and type of microorganisms in either kind of suture.