Background: Many factors play a role when selecting an appropriate suture for optimal soft tissue healing in oral surgery. Moreover, the oral cavity has its specific challenges: it is an aqueous environment in which biofilm formation takes place on all surfaces. Therefore, oral surgery has specific demands for suture materials.

Aim: The primary objective of this study was to compare the bacterial load on different suture materials. The secondary objective was to determine the impact of suture material on decubitus.

Material & methods: This prospective experimental study with a 'split-mouth' design enrolled 36 patients requiring oral surgery. Five different suture materials were compared regarding their microbiological load and decubitus at the suture removal. Bacterial accumulation on the same 5 suture materials was also tested in an in vitro biofilm model.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 36 patients
• in need for periodontal surgery
• patients in good general health
• able to sign IC form

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients that were deemed unlikely to comply with the study protocol, as judged by the examiner
• patients who had a present alcohol and/or drug abuse