Gum stitches work by using dissolvable thread to seal openings in the gums, helping to prevent blood loss and bacterial infection while healing.
When dental procedures require incisions or result in open wounds in the gum tissue, stitches are often used to help the area heal properly. These stitches, sometimes called sutures, play a vital role in the recovery process.
What Gum Stitches Do
The primary function of gum stitches is to seal the opening. This sealing action is crucial for two main reasons:
- Preventing Blood Loss: By holding the edges of the tissue together, stitches help stop bleeding and promote clot formation.
- Preventing Bacterial Infection: A sealed wound is less susceptible to bacteria entering, significantly reducing the risk of infection during the healing phase.
Essentially, they act as temporary closures to protect the healing tissue underneath.
How Gum Stitches Dissolve
Many types of stitches used in dentistry are made from materials designed to be absorbed by the body. As stated in the reference, the stitching thread dissolves over time inside the body. This dissolution process is aided with the help of the immune system's response to foreign materials.
Over a period of days to weeks, the body's natural processes break down the suture material, eliminating the need for a follow-up appointment just to have the stitches removed. The rate at which they dissolve can vary depending on the type of material used and the individual's healing response.
Patient Experience and Nervousness
It's common for patients to feel apprehensive about dental procedures, and patients fear dental stitches. As the reference notes, being nervous about it is normal. Understanding how they work and knowing that dissolvable stitches often eliminate the need for removal can help alleviate some of this anxiety. The goal of the stitches is always to promote effective and safe healing.
In summary, gum stitches are dissolvable sutures that seal gum wounds to prevent complications like bleeding and infection, dissolving naturally over time with the body's help.
