Patient-Reported Outcomes of Four Intraoral Suture Materials

Study Design:

This is a split-mouth, randomized controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinical healing associated with four different intraoral suture materials.

Methodology:

A total of 60 participants requiring multiple sutures in the maxillary arch will be recruited. Following the surgical procedure under local anesthesia, four types of sutures (e.g., Silk, Polyglactin 910, Polyamide, and Poliglecaprone 25) will be placed in a randomized sequence across four standardized sites in a single hemi-arch:

Site A: Anterior Buccal

Site B: Posterior Buccal

Site C: Anterior Palatal

Site D: Posterior Palatal

Randomization and Blinding:

Suture materials will be assigned to sites using a computer-generated randomization table. The study is single-blinded; patients will not be informed which material is placed at which site. A blinded panel of three periodontists will evaluate clinical healing via standardized digital photographs.

Data Collection:

Patient-Reported Outcomes: Participants will complete a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Likert-type scales to assess pain, awareness of the suture, tissue irritation, and functional interference (speaking and eating) on post-operative Days 3, 7, and 14.

Suture Removal: Pain during suture removal will be recorded at Day 7.

Clinical Healing: Healing will be assessed by the expert panel using the Landry, Turnbull, and Howley Index (1988) based on photographs taken at Day 7 and Day 14.

Primary Objective:

To identify which suture material provides the highest level of patient comfort and the least functional interference during the first two weeks of healing.

Secondary Objective:

To compare the clinical tissue response and healing scores between braided and monofilament suture materials in the oral cavity.

Inclusion criteria

Adults aged 20-30 years.

Systemically healthy (ASA I-II).

No history of allergy to study suture materials.

Periodontally healthy, with no active oral lesions, including carious lesions.

Dental Requirements: All maxillary canine, second premolar, and first molar teeth present.

Minimal (≤0.5 mm) open contacts between the pairs of teeth that define the study sites.

Ideally, full maxillary dentition present from first molar to first molar.

At least 2 mm of keratinized tissue width on buccal intervention sites.

Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Willing and able to attend all study follow-up visits and complete study questionnaires.

Exclusion criteria

Allergy to any study materials (e.g., suture materials or anesthetics) or medications (Paracetamol).

Any systemic disease affecting wound healing (e.g., diabetes, immunosuppression).

Use of any medications.

Pregnancy or lactation.

Unwillingness or inability to provide informed consent.

Unwillingness or inability to comply with study protocol and follow-up visits.

Exit Criteria:

Participants may exit the study at any time if they wish to discontinue participation.

Noncompliance with study protocol and visits.

Development of conditions (e.g., infection) that require immediate care or that introduce exclusion criteria.