For many dental procedures, dental sutures are unnecessary. For simple extractions, deep cleaning, and other routine visits, dental stitches are generally more trouble than they are worth. However, for some dental surgeries, dental sutures, and dental suture removal, are topics worth knowing more about. Here’s when they’re appropriate and how to care for them.
What dental procedures use dental stitches?
Dental sutures are most commonly used to close wounds that would otherwise perhaps get larger or not close on their own, including:
- Wisdom tooth extraction
- Dental implants
- Surgical extractions
- Bone grafts
- Alveoloplasty
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth extraction is one of the most common dental surgeries. When the extraction is simple, stitches are generally not necessary.
However, if the wisdom teeth are impacted, cutting into the bone to remove them will require dental sutures.
Dental implants
Dental implants usually require multiple surgical procedures, from placing the implant and then opening the gum afterwards to complete the procedure.
After this procedure, dental sutures can protect the bone from infection and speed healing.
Surgical extraction
As with wisdom teeth, not all extractions of teeth in other areas of the mouth are simple. Surgical extraction may require a few dental stitches.
Bone grafts
Dental bone grafts help restore bone integrity after extraction. Bone grafts also treat significant bone loss when a patient wants to receive dental implants. Dental sutures protect the graft while it heals.
Alveoloplasty
Alveoloplasty often requires the creation of a gum flap. This gum flap must be repositioned and fastened with dental sutures to ensure proper healing.
What are the different types of dental stitches?
There are two types of dental stitches:
- Absorbable
- Non-absorbable
Absorbable
These are also known as dissolvable dental stitches or resorbable dental stitches.
As the name suggests, they will dissolve into the gums over time. These generally dissolve anywhere from three days to two weeks after surgery.
Non-absorbable
This type of stitch must be removed by your dentist after the wound has mostly healed.
Dental suture materials vary, from mono-filament or multi-filament stitches that are made of materials that are natural (e.g., silk) or synthetic (nylon is most common).
Although dissolvable dental stitches do not require removal, your dentist may want to look for remnants just to be safe.
Benefits of dental sutures
Dental sutures, properly placed and removed on time, can provide the following benefits.
Aids in healing
When bone is exposed and then covered with gum tissue (as in a gum flap procedure), dental sutures hold the tissue close to the bone.
This prevents bacteria or other foreign particles from touching your bone. This prevents infection that could damage the area. Dental sutures also minimize the size of the wound so that the edges have less distance to cover.
Minimizes post-operative bleeding
Dental sutures add mild compression to the wound, which helps to minimize and control post-operative bleeding.
When is dental suture removal necessary?
Dental suture removal is scheduled post-operatively somewhere between a week and ten days after your surgery. If your dental stitches come out before then, your wound may reopen or become infected.
A quick checkup can determine the best course of action. In some cases, this may mean re-suturing, but in others, it may be fine. The important thing is to let your dentist take a look.
There is some research that indicates that dental sutures should remain in place for at least five days following any dental surgery. The difference between wounds that keep their dental sutures intact for just three days versus those that stay put for at least seven is also significant, for both pain levels and oral function.
If you lose your dental sutures within three days or less after surgery, it may be tempting to take a wait-and-see approach. Your dentist will be able to determine very quickly if your healing is progressing as it should. Sometimes it’s no big deal, but avoiding a checkup is not worth the risk.
What can I expect with dental stitch removal?
Dental suture removal is generally quick and painless. To begin, you swish with an antibacterial rinse to make sure that any bacteria on the outside of the dental suture is not dragged through the healed wound as the stitch is removed.
Using tweezers, your dentist will pull gently on the end of the stitch to expose more suture. They make a cut, preferably removing the knotted end, and then gently tug the remainder of the stitch through. This process is repeated until all dental sutures are removed.
Generally, this should not be painful. You may feel tugging in the gums. If you are experiencing discomfort, let your dentist know.
What do I do if dental stitches are coming out?
If your dental stitches are coming out, it is important to give your dentist a call (even if you have to call your Scottsdale emergency dentist!).
As noted, dental stitches do more than just close an open wound. Dentists know when a surgical wound requires stitches and when the stitches might trigger an inflammatory response that inhibits healing. When your dentist chooses to close a wound with stitches, it is a deliberate decision made to benefit healing.
What should I do if dental stitches hurt or are irritating?
Your dental stitches themselves should not hurt. If you are experiencing pain or irritation in the area of your surgery, take a moment to consider these questions:
- Is the pain in the area of the sutures, or is it widespread?
- Are the ends of the stitches rubbing or in contact with other gum tissue?
- Is the pain accompanied by bleeding or oozing at the sutures?
- Is the area inflamed and tender to the touch?
- Do I have a fever?
If you are experiencing fever, inflammation, or oozing at the suture site, it’s important to call your doctor or dentist immediately. This could be a sign of infection.
We know dental emergencies (like loose dental sutures) usually happen outside of regular office hours. If you need a weekend dentist in the Phoenix area, give AZ Dentist a call.