Evaluation of the Tensile Strength of Absorbable and Non-Absorbable Suture Materials Exposed to Different Toothpaste Solutions: An In Vitro Study

TL;DR

This study found that certain toothpastes, especially whitening ones, can degrade the strength of sutures used in healing wounds.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel in vitro evaluation of suture degradation caused by exposure to different toothpaste solutions.

Findings

All sutures showed reduced tensile strength over time when exposed to toothpaste solutions.

Whitening toothpaste caused the most significant degradation, especially in absorbable sutures.

Artificial saliva caused the least reduction in tensile strength.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical stability of suture materials following exposure to different toothpaste formulations during the early stages of wound healing. Absorbable and non-absorbable suture materials were tested and each suture was tied with five knots on silicone rods. Four different toothpastes and artificial saliva (control) were used. Sutures were exposed to the toothpastes at specific times on certain days, and stored in artificial saliva. Artificial saliva was used to simulate the oral environment. The study duration was 14 days. Tensile strength was tested on selected days throughout a 14-day period. All sutures showed a gradual reduction in tensile strength over time. The least tensile strength reduction was in the artificial saliva group, while most suture degradation was seen in whitening toothpaste group, particularly in absorbable sutures. The findings of this study show that chemical components in certain toothpaste formulations may degrade the sutures during healing. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the use of the whitening toothpaste group during early wound healing may warrant careful consideration in situations where wound stability is critical.

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