Suture Removal Timing and its Effect on Root Coverage: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To evaluate the impact of suture removal timing on the clinical outcomes of root coverage procedures. Materials and Methods: In this single-blinded, randomized prospective clinical trial, patients presenting with multiple gingival recessions were allocated into three groups based on the timing of suture removal post-surgery: 1 week (TSR1), 2 weeks (TSR2), and 3 weeks (TSR3). Primary outcomes measured included Percentage of Root Coverage (%RC) and Complete Root Coverage (CRC), among other clinical outcomes. Data were collected at baseline and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: At 6 months, the %RC was 58.4% (TSR1), 91.5% (TSR2), and 75.7% (TSR3). TSR2 achieved a 28.9% higher %RC than TSR1, while no significant differences were found between TSR2 and TSR3. CRC was 38.2% (TSR1), 78.6% (TSR2), and 62.5% (TSR3). TSR2 resulted in a 5.92-fold increase in CRC compared to TSR1, whereas no significant difference was observed between TSR2 and TSR3. Conclusions: This suggests that a 2-week period before suture removal may optimize root coverage outcomes. However, extending suture removal timing beyond 2 weeks did not confer additional benefits.These findings are specific to the use of polypropylene and the CAF plus connective tissue graft. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier [NCT04826653]).