Comparing intra-oral wound healing after alveoloplasty using silk sutures and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate

The need for proper wound closure is of paramount importance after any intra-oral surgery. Various wound closure techniques have been described in literature using traditional non-absorbable suture materials. These include like synthetic absorbable sutures, surgical staples and tissue adhesives. Cyanoacrylates are among the most commonly used biocompatible tissue adhesives. To evaluate and compare intraoral wound healing using 3-0 silk sutures and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate after alveoloplasty.

A total of 20 patients requiring bilateral alveoloplasty in the same arch (upper or lower) were included in this study. Patients with any pre-existing pathology or systemic disease were excluded. After alveoloplasty was performed, the wound was closed using 3-0 braided silk sutures on one side, and using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate bio adhesive on the other side. Patients were evaluated based on the following parameters: time required to achieve wound closure; the incidence of immediate and postoperative hemostasis; the time to the use of the first rescue medication; the side where pain first arises; and the side where wound healing begins first.

Compared to 3-0 silk sutures, cyanoacrylate demonstrated better hemostatic properties, reduced operative time, reduced postoperative pain and better wound healing.

These data suggest that cyanoacrylate glue is an adequate alternative to conventional sutures to close the surgical wound after alveoloplasty, and better than are 3-0 silk sutures.