After dental procedures, many individuals find themselves with dissolvable stitches in their mouths. These specialized sutures play a significant role in the healing process, designed to disappear without the need for manual removal. Understanding how these stitches work and what to expect can help alleviate common concerns during recovery.
What Are Dissolvable Stitches
Dissolvable stitches, also known as absorbable sutures, are medical threads crafted from materials that naturally break down within the body. These materials can be either natural, such as purified animal collagen, or synthetic polymers like polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), or polydioxanone (PDO). They are commonly employed in oral surgery to close incisions, secure tissue, and promote healing of the surgical site.
The primary purpose of using dissolvable stitches in the mouth is to maintain proper wound closure, prevent blood loss, and protect against bacterial infection. This self-dissolving nature offers patients increased convenience and can contribute to less swelling, pain, and discomfort during the healing phase. These stitches are designed to support the initial healing, then gradually give way as the body’s natural processes take over.
How Dissolution Time Varies
The duration it takes for dissolvable stitches to completely disappear in the mouth is not uniform and depends on several influencing factors. The type of material used for the stitches significantly impacts their dissolution rate. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures might dissolve relatively quickly, within one to two weeks, while polylactic acid (PLA) and polydioxanone (PDO) stitches can take several weeks to absorb. Natural gut sutures treated with chromium salts, known as chromic catgut, may also last for several weeks before being absorbed.
The specific location of the stitches within the mouth also plays a role in how quickly they dissolve. Areas with robust blood flow and high exposure to saliva, like the gums, dissolve faster, typically within 7 to 10 days. Stitches placed in areas like the inner cheek or tongue, which experience more movement and slower healing rates, might take a bit longer, sometimes 10 to 14 days. An individual’s unique healing rate, influenced by overall health and immune function, also contributes to this variability. Complex procedures might require sturdier stitches that remain longer, while simpler ones may use faster-dissolving types.
The Dissolution Process
As dissolvable stitches begin their breakdown process, patients might notice certain sensations and changes in the surgical area. The stitches gradually weaken and soften as the body’s fluids and enzymes break down the material through processes like hydrolysis or enzymatic degradation. This means the stitches do not typically fall out as a whole, but rather disintegrate into smaller, often imperceptible, pieces.
Patients may experience a slight “gritty” feeling in their mouth or notice small fragments of the stitches coming loose and being expelled. This is normal and indicates the stitches are dissolving. Occasionally, a stitch might appear to be hanging or loose; this can be a sign that it is actively dissolving or that the healing tissue is gently pushing it out. Do not manually interfere, as attempting to pull or prematurely remove stitches can disrupt wound healing.
Caring for Your Mouth and When to Call Your Dentist
Proper care of the surgical site is important while dissolvable stitches are present. Dentists typically advise gentle oral hygiene practices, including carefully brushing around the stitches with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid dislodging them. Rinsing the mouth with a warm saltwater solution, as recommended by your dentist, can help keep the area clean and promote healing, but do so gently without vigorous swishing or spitting. Consume soft foods and avoid anything sharp or crunchy that could snag or irritate the stitches, as well as refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol, which can impede healing.
While the dissolution process is generally uneventful, certain signs and symptoms warrant contacting your dentist immediately. Persistent or worsening pain that is not alleviated by prescribed medication, excessive bleeding that does not subside with gentle pressure, or signs of infection such as fever, increased redness, swelling, or pus formation around the stitches. If stitches appear to be unraveling too early, causing the wound to gape, or if they have not dissolved after an extended period, typically more than two weeks, a dental consultation is recommended.