What Sutures Do Dentists Use? A Complete Dental Suture Guide

The Most Common Sutures Used in Dentistry

Dental professionals use a specific set of suture materials tailored to the oral environment — where rapid healing, predictable absorption, and tissue compatibility are essential. The choice of suture depends on the procedure, tissue type, and whether the suture needs to dissolve on its own or be removed.

Here are the suture types most commonly used by dentists, oral surgeons, and periodontists in Canada and the United States.

1. Chromic Gut Sutures

Why dentists use it: Chromic gut is the most widely used absorbable suture in general dentistry. It provides reliable wound closure for extractions, periodontal flap procedures, and soft tissue surgery, then absorbs naturally over 2–3 weeks.

Key specs: Natural gut treated with chromium salts. Tensile strength for 10–21 days. Complete absorption in ~90 days.

Most popular sizes: 5-0 with P-3 reverse cutting needle (Ethicon 687G), 4-0 with P-3 (Ethicon 1654G), 3-0 with FS-2 (Ethicon 636H for larger tissue).

Best for: Extractions, periodontal surgery, general oral surgery.

Shop chromic gut sutures at ProNorth Medical

2. Plain Gut / Fast Absorbing Gut Sutures

Why dentists use it: Fast absorbing gut dissolves quicker than chromic (as few as 5–14 days), making it ideal for procedures where you want the suture to fall out on its own without a follow-up appointment.

Most popular: Ethicon 1915G (5-0 Fast Absorbing PC-1) is one of the highest-selling dental sutures in Canada.

Best for: Procedures in mucosal tissue where rapid suture loss is acceptable.

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3. PTFE Sutures

Why dentists use it: PTFE is the gold standard for dental implant surgery and guided tissue regeneration. Unlike other non-absorbable sutures, PTFE resists bacterial wicking — meaning bacteria cannot travel along the suture into the wound. This makes it the safest choice for implant and bone graft procedures.

Most popular: Corza 817B (4-0 C-22 needle) and 821B (4-0 PC-31 needle).

Best for: Implant placement, guided tissue/bone regeneration, periodontal membrane procedures.

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4. Vicryl (Polyglactin 910 / PGLA) Sutures

Why dentists use it: Vicryl is a synthetic braided absorbable suture used for deeper tissue layers and periodontal procedures. The Plus version includes an antibacterial coating (Triclosan) that helps reduce bacterial colonization.

Most popular: Ethicon VCP493G (5-0 P-3), VCP494G (4-0 P-3).

Best for: Periodontal surgery, soft tissue grafts, multi-layer closure.

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5. Silk Sutures

Why dentists use it: Silk is a natural braided non-absorbable suture known for its excellent handling and knot security. It is easy to tie and comfortable for patients. However, silk can harbor bacteria more than monofilament sutures, so it is being replaced by synthetic alternatives in many practices.

Best for: Mucosal closure, extraction sites where suture removal is planned.

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6. Polypropylene (Prolene) and Nylon (Ethilon)

Why dentists use it: Non-absorbable monofilament sutures are occasionally used in oral surgery for skin closure (extraoral incisions) or when long-term suture support is needed. Prolene and nylon cause minimal tissue reaction.

Best for: Extraoral skin closure, extended wound support in complex oral surgery.

Shop polypropylene sutures | Shop nylon sutures

Which Suture Size Do Dentists Use?

Most dental sutures are 3-0 through 6-0:

• 5-0 — The most common size for dental extractions and general oral surgery
• 4-0 — For thicker tissue (palatal, gingival flaps)
• 3-0 — For larger tissue bites (molar extractions, vestibuloplasty)
• 6-0 — For fine, delicate closure (cosmetic areas, anterior gingiva)

Which Needle Types Do Dentists Use?

• P-3 (Reverse Cutting, 13mm) — The most common dental suture needle. Used for most intraoral soft tissue.
• FS-2 (Reverse Cutting, 19mm) — For larger tissue bites in molar and posterior regions.
• C-6 (Reverse Cutting) — Common in Corza/LOOK suture lines for dental use.
• C-22 (Reverse Cutting) — The standard needle for PTFE sutures in implant surgery.
• PC-1 (Conventional Cutting, 13mm) — Used with fast absorbing gut sutures.

Where to Buy Dental Sutures in Canada

ProNorth Medical is a Canadian family-owned medical supply company specializing in wound closure products. We carry Ethicon, Corza, Demetech, and Riverpoint Medical sutures for dental clinics, with bulk pricing available (5–15% off multi-box orders).

40+ years of wound closure expertise. Ships across Canada and the USA.

Shop all dental sutures | Request clinic pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best suture for dental extractions?

5-0 chromic gut with a P-3 reverse cutting needle (such as Ethicon 687G) is the most widely used suture for dental extractions in Canada. It absorbs naturally and does not require a follow-up removal appointment.

What sutures are used for dental implants?

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) sutures are the standard for dental implant surgery because they resist bacterial wicking. Corza 817B (4-0 C-22) is the most popular PTFE suture for implant procedures.

Do dental sutures dissolve on their own?

Absorbable sutures (chromic gut, plain gut, Vicryl, Monocryl) dissolve on their own over days to weeks. Non-absorbable sutures (PTFE, nylon, silk, Prolene) must be removed at a follow-up appointment.

Where can I buy dental sutures in bulk in Canada?

ProNorth Medical offers bulk pricing for dental clinics: 5% off 3 boxes, 10% off 6 boxes, 15% off 9+ boxes. Visit pronorthmedical.ca/collections/dental-sutures or request a quote.