Suturing Techniques and Principles

Surgical procedures in dentistry are becoming much more commonplace, where all dentists must be well-versed in basic and advanced suturing techniques. Whether performing a simple interrupted suture after draining a tooth abscess, or releasing the periosteum to close a large incision after alveolar ridge augmentation, many of the principles of tissue handling, instrumentation, and possible complications are the same. This course will review medical and local factors that can affect wound healing and review principles of suturing. Specific hands-on workshops will also be included to learn flap design, basic and advanced suturing techniques, focusing on tension-free closure, and choosing appropriate suture materials. This course will make the participant more comfortable and confident in their suturing abilities, allowing them to incorporate more surgical procedures into their daily practice.

Course Topics:

1. Review wound healing and principles of suturing
2. Choosing the best suture size and material
3. Interrupted vs. continuous suturing; horizontal and vertical mattress suturing; figure-of-eight; sling suturing, and others
4. Suturing techniques for extraction sockets, bone grafting, implants, soft tissue grafting