TL;DR: Choosing a dental suture comes down to three decisions: absorbable or non-absorbable, monofilament or multifilament, and the right needle size and shape. A 2022 systematic review of oral surgery sutures found that non-absorbable monofilament synthetic sutures caused less tissue reaction and microbial accumulation than multifilament ones, and that nylon and chromic gut showed the least bacterial aggregation. This guide covers the evidence, how to read a suture box label, and how to stock LOOK sutures from EBIKO Dental.
Sutures are one of those supplies that rarely get a second thought until the wrong box is open on the tray. Extractions, periodontal flaps, implant surgery and soft-tissue biopsies often end with wound closure, and the material you close with affects handling, patient comfort and whether the patient needs a removal visit. As of October 2026, if your practice in Toronto or the GTA hasn't reviewed its suture stock in a while, this guide is a good place to start.
This guide starts with what the research says about suture materials in the mouth, then explains how to decode a suture box, and finishes with the LOOK suture range available from EBIKO Dental.
Why Suture Choice Matters More in the Mouth
The mouth poses particular challenges for sutures. A 2022 systematic review in the International Dental Journal by Faris and colleagues lists the reasons: saliva, a distinct oral biota, high vascularization, chewing and swallowing. The authors describe the ideal suture as having high tensile strength and low tissue reactivity, plus sterility, uniform thickness, flexibility for easy handling and the ability to hold a secure knot.
No single material scores perfectly on every one of those. That is why most surgical practices stock more than one suture type.
Absorbable vs. Non-Absorbable Sutures
The first decision is whether the suture should break down on its own. The Faris review explains that absorbable sutures such as catgut and polyglycolic acid (PGA) are mostly used in internal tissues. Natural sutures are absorbed by enzymatic degradation and synthetic ones by hydrolysis. Non-absorbable sutures such as nylon and silk are preferred for tissues that need stabilization for longer, and the clinician has to remove them.
That removal step has a cost. The same review describes silk as one of the most cost-effective suture materials in use, but notes its main drawback: patient discomfort during removal and the hassle of an extra visit.
Plain gut and chromic gut
Gut sutures are the natural absorbable option. In the LOOK suture catalogue from Surgical Specialties Corporation, both plain and chromic gut are listed as twisted, absorbable materials. LOOK states that their in vivo strength retention varies, and that mass absorption varies by type (plain vs. chromic) and by site of placement. One study cited in the Faris review found that the chromic coating prevents slippage and delays the loss of tensile strength, which improved knot stability.
Silk
Silk is a widely used non-absorbable suture. The LOOK catalogue lists silk as braided, available undyed (white), dyed (black) or coated, and credits it with "excellent handling and tying characteristics". The trade-off appears in the tissue-reaction literature. A 2012 review in ISRN Dentistry by Javed and colleagues found that six of its seventeen included studies reported more intense tissue inflammatory response and delayed wound healing with silk than with other materials, including ePTFE, polyglecaprone 25, PGA and nylon.
Nylon
Nylon is a non-absorbable monofilament. LOOK lists it in clear, blue or black and notes that it "passes easily through tissue". The Javed review reported that eight studies found minimal tissue reactions with nylon sutures.
Monofilament vs. Braided: The Bacteria Question
The second decision is structure. The Faris review explains that a monofilament suture is a single strand, which gives less tissue resistance and is less likely to harbour microorganisms than a multifilament suture. The catch is that crushing a monofilament can lead to premature suture failure. Braided multifilament sutures have more surface area, and the review says this gives them a higher bacterial adhesion index.
The numbers in the review are striking. In one included study, bacterial colonization on nylon was 83% lower than on silk after 3 days and 65% lower after 7 days. The review's conclusion: compared with multifilament sutures, non-resorbable monofilament synthetic sutures showed less tissue reaction and microbial accumulation, and nylon and chromic gut had the least bacterial aggregation of all the materials evaluated.
The review also cites research recommending that sutures be removed as soon as possible, at 6 to 10 days, and stresses that sutures should not be left in for long periods.
Gut and silk still have advantages. The review cites a study by Syafilda and colleagues finding that catgut gave a faster average healing time than silk, but its stiffness made it harder to tie and more likely to injure oral tissue. Silk outperformed catgut on biocompatibility and handling. The authors also acknowledge real limits: they combined mixed study designs, and they call for large, high-quality randomized trials before firm recommendations can be made. Treat the findings as a guide to trade-offs, not a single right answer.
Pro Tip: If your practice defaults to black silk for everything, try a box of monofilament nylon on your next 10 non-absorbable closures. Note handling and patient comfort at the removal visit, then decide with real chairside data.
How to Read a Suture Listing: Size, Needle and Length
Suture codes can be confusing at first. On EBIKO Dental's listings, each LOOK variant pairs the LOOK product code with three specifications. A variant such as 561B (2-0/C7/27") reads as: LOOK code 561B, suture size 2-0, needle code C7, strand length 27 inches.
Suture size
Sizes are written as 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 and so on, so match the size your surgeon specifies. LOOK's gut sutures on our site come in sizes from 2-0 to 5-0.
Needle anatomy
The LOOK catalogue defines the parts that matter. The length is measured along the curve from the point to the swage. The swage is where the needle joins the suture, with micro teeth gripping the material. The curvature is the fraction of a circle the needle makes, such as 3/8 or 1/2.
Needle point
According to LOOK, a reverse cutting needle has a triangular point with the cutting edge on the outer curvature. A conventional cutting needle has the edge on the inner curvature. A taper point needle has a round shaft and no cutting edge. LOOK's "C" needle codes appear under its reverse cutting needle charts.
The LOOK catalogue's needle chart also lists Ethicon and Covidien equivalents. For example, LOOK's C6 appears alongside Ethicon's FS-2 and Covidien's C-13. That helps when a surgeon trained on another brand asks for "an FS-2".
Pro Tip: Tape a one-line "house standard" inside the suture drawer listing your two or three go-to codes, for example one gut and one non-absorbable. Reordering stays consistent, and a new team member can't grab a 27-inch strand when your surgeon wants 18.
LOOK Sutures at EBIKO Dental
EBIKO Dental carries four LOOK suture lines. Each box contains 12 sutures of the configuration you select, and each line is $59.99 CAD per box:
- LOOK Chromic Gut Surgical Sutures, 12/Box: absorbable, in sizes 2-0 to 5-0 with a range of needle codes and 14-, 18- and 27-inch lengths. This is the absorbable option the 2022 review grouped with nylon for the least bacterial aggregation.
- LOOK Plain Gut Surgical Sutures, 12/Box: absorbable, in sizes 2-0 to 5-0, including the common 592B (3-0 / C6 / 18").
- LOOK Silk Surgical Sutures, 12/Box: non-absorbable braided black silk, in sizes 0 to 6-0, for clinicians who prioritize handling and knot tying.
- LOOK Nylon Black Monofilament Sutures, 12/Box: non-absorbable monofilament, in sizes 2-0 to 4-0 on C6, C7, C8 and C17 needles.
Pair your sutures with the right needle holder
A needle holder sized for your suture range makes fine closures easier. EBIKO Dental's needle holder range includes the Olsen Hegar Needle Holder, 14 cm ($93.99 CAD). It also includes tungsten carbide models labelled by suture size, such as the Lichtenberg Needle Holder, 17 cm, Tungsten Carbide ($193.99 CAD), which is listed for 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0 sutures.
Building a Practical Suture Inventory
Most general practices don't need dozens of SKUs. A sensible approach:
- Pick one absorbable workhorse, plain or chromic gut, in the size and needle your surgeons use most.
- Pick one non-absorbable option, silk if your team values handling or nylon if you want the monofilament profile, and book the removal visit when you place it.
- Add a finer size only if procedures demand it. Let your surgeon's technique and the procedure decide whether you need a second, finer size.
- Track expiry dates. Sutures are sterile, single-use products, so rotate stock and use the oldest boxes first.
Confirm product suitability and the manufacturer's instructions for use for each procedure. Clinical choice of suture remains the operator's decision.
Ready to restock? Shop sutures and surgical instruments at EBIKO Dental. Shipping is free on orders over $99 CAD in the GTA, $199 CAD in Ontario and $299 CAD across Canada, and our price match guarantee means you don't have to shop around.
Sources
- LOOK Suture Catalog, Surgical Specialties Corporation
- Faris A, et al. Characteristics of Suture Materials Used in Oral Surgery: Systematic Review. International Dental Journal 2022;72(3):278-287
- Javed F, et al. Tissue reactions to various suture materials used in oral surgical interventions. ISRN Dentistry 2012
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best suture material for oral surgery?
No single material is best for every case. A 2022 systematic review found that non-absorbable monofilament synthetic sutures caused less tissue reaction and microbial accumulation than multifilament ones, with nylon and chromic gut showing the least bacterial aggregation. Silk remains popular for its handling and tying characteristics.
Q: Do dental sutures need to be removed?
Absorbable sutures such as plain or chromic gut break down on their own. Non-absorbable sutures such as silk and nylon must be removed by the clinician. A 2022 review cites research recommending removal as soon as possible, at around 6 to 10 days.
Q: What does "3-0 / C6 / 18 inch" mean on a suture listing?
It gives the suture size (3-0), the needle code (C6) and the strand length (18 inches). LOOK's catalogue product tables list the C6 as a 19 mm needle with a 3/8 circle curvature.