Suturing techniques in oral surgery

  • S. Siervo
UK: Quintessence price £105.00; pp 240 ISBN 9788874921701

For many operations in oral surgery, optimal suturing determines the success of the procedure. The intention of the book is to highlight the importance of soft tissue management in oral surgery when the correct functional and aesthetic result is to be achieved. The general layout of the book is well structured with the contents divided into four logical subsections including surgical wound healing, technological aspects (ie suture materials), auxiliary materials (ie instruments used), and clinical applications for different suturing methods.

The surgical wound healing section provides an overview of the physiology and histology of tissue healing. The author highlights the need for a fundamental understanding of the different healing processes for various tissue types since each requires separate suturing materials and techniques to achieve optimal results. The clinical applications section is colourfully presented with useful step by step technique illustrations to demonstrate a wide range of sutures. Intraoral clinical photographs of 14 case studies are used to demonstrate the relevance of various sutures to clinical practice with an emphasis on implantology and periodontal surgery.

The text suggests that 'at present non resorbable sutures are undoubtedly the family of sutures most widely used in oral surgery'. This advice may not be consistent with everyday practice within the UK. One consideration is that the book has been produced by and possibly designed for the European market.

The book may be a useful adjunct or reference guide for anyone who is contemplating carrying out minor oral surgical procedures, for the undergraduate who is practising their first sutures, and for practitioners who need to develop an understanding of diverse suturing skills.

In summary, this relatively expensive book is well presented with ample illustrations. It is, however, a fairly bulky hardback considering that it only outlines the fundamentals of intraoral suturing techniques. The step by step technique illustrations are useful, however many of the intraoral clinical photographs lack relevance. There is perhaps some unnecessary detail included on the restorative and implantology techniques used in the case studies. Perhaps welcome would be an inclusion on flap design and perioral wound management.