By ProNorth Medical

Absorbable vs Non-Absorbable Sutures: A Complete Guide for Clinics

What Are Absorbable Sutures?

Absorbable sutures are designed to be broken down naturally by the body over time through hydrolysis or enzymatic degradation. They do not require removal, making them ideal for internal tissue closure, oral surgery, and procedures where follow-up suture removal is impractical.

Common Absorbable Suture Materials

  • Chromic Gut — A natural absorbable suture treated with chromium salts to slow absorption. Tensile strength is maintained for 10–21 days, with complete absorption in 90 days. Widely used in dental extractions and oral surgery. ProNorth carries Ethicon and Corza chromic gut in 3-0 through 6-0 sizes.
  • Plain Gut / Fast Absorbing Gut — Untreated natural gut that absorbs faster than chromic (complete absorption in 70 days for plain, as few as 14 days for fast absorbing). Popular in dental and mucosal tissue procedures. Ethicon 1915G (5-0 Fast Absorbing PC-1) is one of our best sellers.
  • Vicryl / Polyglactin 910 (PGLA) — A synthetic braided absorbable suture. Maintains tensile strength for 21–28 days with complete absorption in 56–70 days. Used across dental, medical, and surgical specialties. Available from Ethicon (Vicryl Plus with antibacterial coating) and Corza (Polysyn).
  • Monocryl / Poliglecaprone 25 (PGCL) — A synthetic monofilament absorbable suture. Maintains strength for 7–14 days with complete absorption in 90–120 days. Preferred for subcuticular skin closure in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. Ethicon Monocryl Plus (MCP494G, MCP493G) are among our highest-volume products.
  • Polydioxanone (PDO / Doxipro) — A synthetic monofilament that maintains tensile strength longer than other absorbables (up to 42 days), with complete absorption in approximately 180 days. Used when prolonged wound support is needed, particularly in veterinary surgery.

When to Use Absorbable Sutures

  • Internal tissue closure where suture removal is not possible
  • Oral and dental procedures (extractions, periodontal surgery)
  • Subcuticular skin closure in dermatology
  • Pediatric procedures where suture removal would be difficult
  • Veterinary surgery
  • Any procedure where minimizing follow-up visits is a priority

What Are Non-Absorbable Sutures?

Non-absorbable sutures maintain their tensile strength indefinitely and must be removed after the wound has healed. They provide long-lasting wound support and are preferred when predictable, enduring strength is required.

Common Non-Absorbable Suture Materials

  • Polypropylene (Prolene) — A synthetic monofilament with minimal tissue reactivity. Maintains strength indefinitely. Widely used in dermatology for skin closure, cardiovascular surgery, and any application requiring long-term support. Ethicon Prolene (6-0 and 5-0 P-3 needle) is a mainstay for dermatologists.
  • Nylon (Ethilon) — A synthetic monofilament known for its strength, flexibility, and ease of handling. Standard choice for skin closure across all surgical specialties. Available in black for visibility. Ethicon Ethilon in 4-0, 5-0, and 6-0 sizes are commonly stocked by clinics.
  • PTFE — Polytetrafluoroethylene, a non-absorbable monofilament that resists bacterial wicking. The standard suture for dental implant surgery and guided tissue regeneration in periodontics. Corza PTFE (817B, 821B) are our most popular PTFE products.
  • Silk — A natural braided non-absorbable suture with excellent handling characteristics. Used in mucosal closure and general surgery. Gradually loses tensile strength over time despite being classified as non-absorbable.

When to Use Non-Absorbable Sutures

  • External skin closure where sutures will be removed at follow-up
  • Dental implant surgery (PTFE)
  • Cardiovascular and vascular procedures
  • Tendon repair and orthopedic procedures
  • Any application requiring long-term or permanent wound support

How to Choose: Absorbable vs Non-Absorbable

The choice between absorbable and non-absorbable sutures depends on the tissue type, location, required healing time, and whether follow-up suture removal is feasible.

Factor Absorbable Non-Absorbable
Suture removal needed? No Yes
Internal tissue closure Preferred Rarely used
External skin closure Subcuticular only Standard
Dental extractions Chromic gut, plain gut Silk (sometimes)
Implant surgery Not recommended PTFE
Dermatology / cosmetic Monocryl (deep layer) Prolene, nylon (skin)
Veterinary surgery Monopro, Doxipro, Vilet Nylopro, DemePROPINK
Tensile strength duration 7–42 days Indefinite

Popular Suture Products by Specialty

For Dental Clinics

Most dental clinics stock chromic gut (5-0 and 4-0 with P-3 needle), plain gut fast absorbing, and PTFE for implant cases. Shop dental sutures.

For Dermatology Clinics

Dermatologists typically use Monocryl for subcuticular closure and Prolene or nylon for external skin closure in 5-0 and 6-0 sizes. Shop dermatology sutures.

For Medical & Surgical Clinics

General surgical practices stock a broader range — Vicryl for deep tissue, Monocryl for subcuticular, nylon or Prolene for skin, and chromic gut for mucosal work. Shop medical sutures.

For Veterinary Clinics

Vet clinics rely on Demetech Monopro (absorbable monofilament), Doxipro (PDO for prolonged support), and Nylopro (nylon) for the majority of procedures. Shop veterinary sutures.

Bulk Pricing for Clinics

ProNorth Medical offers tiered bulk pricing on all suture orders: 5% off 3 boxes, 10% off 6 boxes, and 15% off 9 or more boxes. This applies to any mix of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. Request clinic pricing or shop directly from our Suture Supercenter.

About ProNorth Medical

ProNorth Medical is a Canadian family-owned medical supply company with over 40 years of wound closure expertise. We are authorized suppliers of Ethicon, Corza, Demetech, and Riverpoint Medical sutures, serving dental, medical, dermatology, and veterinary clinics across Canada and the United States.

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