Suture Materials in Dental Practice: A Scoping Literature Review

AbstractBackground : Sutures are artificial fibers used in medical practice to hold tissues together after injury or surgical procedures. Their main purpose is to bring wound edges into proper alignment, control bleeding, reduce the risk of infection, and support healing by primary intention. Improper suturing can result in complications such as pain, tissue necrosis, exposed bone, flap failure, and delayed wound healing.Aim : To provide an overview of suturing materials, their classification, properties, instruments, techniques, and recent advancements used in surgical wound closure.Overview : The use of sutures dates back to ancient times, when natural materials such as horsehair, silk, wool, and flax were used by early surgeons including Sushruta, Hippocrates, Galen, and Ibn Sina. The Edwin Smith Papyrus (1600 BCE) described early wound closure techniques. With advancements in science, sutures evolved into modern synthetic materials such as polyglycolic acid and polyglactin. Sutures are classified based on their origin, structure, absorbability, coating, and diameter. An ideal suture material should be easy to handle, have good tensile strength, cause minimal tissue reaction, and provide secure knotting. Proper selection of suturing instruments, adherence to suturing principles, and use of appropriate techniques are essential for successful wound healing. Recent developments such as antimicrobial coated, drug eluting, stem cell seeded, shape memory, and electronic sutures aim to improve healing and reduce postoperative infections.Conclusion : Although alternatives like staples, tissue adhesives, and steri-strips are available, sutures remain the most dependable method for wound closure due to their precision, flexibility, and ability to provide stable tissue approximation.