Suture Removal Timing and Its Effect on Root Coverage: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Area of Science:

• Periodontal surgery
• Regenerative dentistry

Background:

• Gingival recession affects numerous patients, necessitating root coverage procedures.
• Suture removal timing is a critical factor influencing the success of these procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the optimal timing for suture removal following root coverage procedures.
• To evaluate the impact of different suture removal timings on clinical outcomes such as Percentage of Root Coverage (%RC) and Complete Root Coverage (CRC).

Main Methods:

• A single-blinded, randomized prospective clinical trial was conducted.
• Patients with multiple gingival recessions were divided into three groups based on suture removal timing: 1 week (TSR1), 2 weeks (TSR2), and 3 weeks (TSR3).
• Clinical outcomes including %RC and CRC were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• At 6 months, the 2-week suture removal group (TSR2) showed the highest %RC (91.5%) and CRC (78.6%).
• TSR2 demonstrated a 28.9% higher %RC and a 5.92-fold increase in CRC compared to the 1-week group (TSR1).
• No significant differences in %RC or CRC were observed between the 2-week (TSR2) and 3-week (TSR3) groups.

Conclusions:

• A 2-week period for suture removal appears to optimize outcomes for root coverage procedures using connective tissue grafts and polypropylene sutures.
• Extending suture removal beyond 2 weeks did not yield further improvements in root coverage.
• These findings provide evidence-based guidance for surgical protocols in periodontal regeneration.