Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

SEM investigation of bacteria adhesion on polyglecaprone 25

B. Cem Sener, Ahmet Arslan

Wound infection after surgery can be addressed to bacteria inoculation into the operation site. Sutures can facilitate bacteria colonization on them. Several suture types are used in the oral cavity. The aim of this clinical study was to compare bacterial adhesion tendencies on silk, polyglycolic acid sutures and polyglecaprone 25 sutures.
Eight patients underwent lower impacted third molar surgery and each flap was closed with these three sutures. Sutures were removed on the 7th day and were fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde in order to be examined with scanning electron microscope. Counts of cocci, rods and spirochetts around the sutures were scored. Adherence of bacteria was lower in polyglecaprone 25 than polyglycolic acid and silk. Silk had the highest bacteria count. Polyglecaprone 25 and polyglycolic acid had low bacteria colonization rate, however, none of them was able to impede bacterial immigration in to the tissue.