Rate of loss of irradiated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl Rapide) from the mouth:a prospective study

We aimed to find out how long irradiated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl Rapide) re mained in the oral tissues and to investigate the effect of chlorhexidine m outhwash on absorption time and bacterial growth on sutures, Twenty-one vol unteers each had two Vicryl Rapide sutures placed intraorally under local a naesthesia, Ten of these subjects used chlorhexidine mouthwash twice daily, After 7 days, one suture was removed to be cultured for aerobic and anaero bic bacteria, The other was monitored for time from insertion to loss. The median survival value was 3 days (range 1-13), The median number of days to suture loss was less in the chlorhexidine group (3, range 1-11) than in th e control group (4, range 1-13) but this was not significant, There were no significant differences in aerobic and anaerobic counts between the two gr oups. Vicryl Rapide may be useful for intraoral use.