Chlorhexidine coated sutures after extraction: A randomized controlled trial
In brief
Chlorhexidine sutures significantly lower bacterial counts after wisdom-tooth surgery
In a split-mouth study of 45 patients, chlorhexidine-coated sutures significantly reduced bacterial colony counts compared with standard sutures after surgical third-molar extraction. Patients also had lower pain and swelling scores, but the lower infection rate was not statistically significant, so whether the sutures prevent infections remains unclear.
- Journal
- Journal of oral biology and craniofacial research (Q2)
- Published
- 2 October 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Shravan Jagadish, Soumi Samuel, Padmaraj Hegde, Veena Shetty, P Rajesha
- PMID
- 42871800
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jobcr.2026.101554
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Microbiology (medical) (top studies of the week, 18 October 2026): Chlorhexidine significantly decreased bacterial colony counts
Abstract
AIM: To assess and compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine coated polyglactin 910 versus non-coated sutures in post-operative infection control. METHODOLOGY: A split-mouth study involving 45 participants needing surgical tooth extraction split into two groups: Group A (45 teeth) with chlorhexidine-coated sutures and Group B (45 teeth) with non-coated sutures. Participants indicated for a bilateral third molar surgical extractions requiring a three-cornered flap elevation and buccal bone guttering were included in the study. The parameters assessed clinically were pain, swelling, wound dehiscence, erythema, infection and trismus on post-operative day 1, 4 and 7. Culture and assessment of sutures for organisms and colony forming units was done on day 7 (CFU/ml). The data was recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Group A showed lower pain scores and swelling. Infection rates were lower in Group A but were not of statistical significance. Erythema, trismus and wound dehiscence showed lower scores in group A. Microbiologically, Staphylococcus aureus (28%) and E. coli (24.4%) were predominant in Group A, whereas the control group exhibited higher incidences of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus (24.6%). Chlorhexidine significantly decreased bacterial colony counts. CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine-coated sutures has a proven benefit in the reduction of bacterial growth (CFUs/ml) post-surgical tooth extraction and may be a useful adjunct in reducing the post-operative inflammation.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.