Wound Healing and Bacterial Adherence With Triclosan-Coated Sutures After Mandibular Impacted Third Molar Surgery

This randomized, double-blind, two-period crossover clinical trial evaluates the antibacterial performance of triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 sutures compared with standard (non-coated) polyglactin 910 sutures following impacted mandibular third molar surgery. The study is designed to determine whether triclosan coating reduces bacterial adherence/amount on suture material during early postoperative healing and to examine associated soft-tissue healing.

Each participant undergoes two separate surgical extractions of impacted mandibular third molars performed on different occasions 4 weeks apart. The operated side (right or left) may vary by case and is recorded; treatment assignment is based on surgery order (period 1 versus period 2). Participants are randomized to one of two sequences: (A) triclosan-coated suture in the first surgery followed by non-coated suture in the second surgery, or (B) the reverse sequence. Standardized perioperative management is used across both periods to reduce procedural variability.

Masking is maintained for participants and outcome assessors. Allocation is concealed and documented for analysis after data collection. For each surgery, follow-up assessments are conducted during the first postoperative week using prespecified clinical evaluations and laboratory testing of a small collected suture segment, with consistent follow-up timing across both periods. Follow-up visits occur on postoperative days 3, 5, and 7 after each surgery.

The crossover design enables within-participant comparisons between suture types, reducing inter-individual variation in oral microbiota and healing response. The 4-week interval between procedures is intended to minimize carryover effects from the first surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18 to 35 years.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II.
• Presence of two symmetric impacted mandibular third molars with the same level of difficulty according to the Pell-Gregory and Winter classification; the difference in angulation between the two third molars is no more than 15 degrees.
• No use of topical or systemic antibiotics for at least 4 weeks before surgery.
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
• No active infection associated with the mandibular third molar at the time of enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Allergy to local anesthetic (2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine) or any medications used in the study.
• Radiographic findings suggestive of a tumor or cyst associated with the impacted mandibular third molar.
• Participant withdraws consent or does not agree to continue participation.
• Unable to attend scheduled follow-up visits.
• Difference in surgical extraction time between the two procedures is 12 minutes or more.
• Suture loss/loosening before completion of the final assessment time point.