Dental offices use a lot of gauze to soak up blood and help prevent dry socket after extractions. It keeps the patient’s mouth dry so you can work effectively. It can also serve as a barrier against food particles entering the wound site.
There are two types of gauze available, woven and non-woven. Woven gauze is woven from fiber, while non-woven gauze is bonded together with heat, chemicals, pressure, or solvents. Each has specific uses for different procedures, and you’ll learn how to choose between woven vs non-woven gauze below.
But just know for now that you can find all the types of dental gauze you need for your practice at My DDS Supply. We’re your factory-direct eBay store for all things dental supplies, bringing you the best selection at unbeatable prices, with world-class support along the way. Upgrade your dental sourcing standards today.
What’s the Difference Between Woven and Non-Woven Gauze?
The biggest difference between woven and non-woven gauze is in how they’re made. Woven gauze uses the same manufacturing techniques as other woven cloths. Non-woven gauze is pressed or bonded in the same way as coffee filters or tea bags.
What is Woven Gauze?
Woven gauze is typically made out of cotton. The cotton threads are loosely spaced. The vertical threads are arranged in pairs and crossed before and after each horizontal thread. This gives woven gauze a loose, flexible texture.
What is Non-Woven Gauze?
Non-woven gauze is made from short staple fibers and long continuous fibers bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat, or solvent treatment. It can be made from many fibers, but is most often made with synthetic materials like rayon or polyester.
Woven vs Non-Woven Gauze for Dentistry: Which is Better For Your Practice?
You may need both varieties in your arsenal to ensure you’re never caught off guard with a specific patient or procedure. But, here’s a rundown of the differences between each gauze type in practical use to help you decide when to use woven vs non-woven gauze.
Absorbency and Fluid Management
A gauze sponge keeps the operative field clean and dry to avoid risk of infection or discomfort. Absorbent gauze sponges also keep patients from swallowing blood, saliva, and debris. There’s little difference between woven and non-woven gauze sponges for that purpose.
The patient bites down on a gauze back for 30-45 minutes after an extraction. The gauze absorbs the blood and pinches off blood vessels so a clot can form at the extraction site. Woven gauze is the best gauze for tooth extraction because of its superior flexibility.
Strength When Wet and Overall Integrity
Choosing between woven vs non-woven gauze for soaking up saliva during a cleaning or polishing is simple. Cotton fibers become stronger when they’re wet. But non-woven gauze is the best for dry sockets and complex extractions.
One of the biggest strengths of non-woven gauze vs woven gauze is its resistance to linting. Woven gauze can shed small fibers that end up in wounds or on dental instruments. Because non-woven gauze is bonded, it is much less likely to shed fibers.
To find out more about post-procedure treatment, check out our article on how long to leave gauze on after tooth extraction.
Cost and Efficiency Tradeoffs
There are price differences between non-woven gauze vs woven gauze. Non-woven gauze is a bit more expensive, but it can absorb fluids more efficiently thanks to its denser and more uniform matrix of fibers. This means you use fewer gauze sponges during a procedure.
Overall, non-woven gauze’s higher efficiency evens out the cost advantage of woven gauze.
Use Case-Based Comparison
One situation where you might choose woven vs non-woven gauze is an uncomplicated molar extraction. The slightly coarser texture and extra flexibility of woven gauze provides a firm structure that lets the patient bite down firmly on the extraction site. This helps ensure blood clot formation and proper healing.
A good use of non-woven gauze vs woven gauze is if you’re doing a bone graft procedure or multiple wisdom tooth extractions. Non-woven gauze wicks away blood and saliva more efficiently. Its smoother, softer texture also makes it more comfortable and less irritating to the wound site.
Additional Factors to Consider When Choosing Dental Gauze
The choice between woven vs non-woven gauze is just one factor to consider. Here are some other things to keep in mind when you’re sourcing gauze for your dental practice.
Sterility
Bacteria, fungi, or viruses in non-sterile gauze can lead to serious complications. Abscesses and bone infections can turn a minor dental procedure into a major medical crisis. Always use sterile gauze pads in any situation where the gauze comes in contact with the wound site.
Non-sterile gauze pads are acceptable for soaking up blood and saliva or applying topical antiseptics to the site. They can also be used for cleaning instruments that will be sterilized later.
Size and Ply
Use 4-ply or 8-ply thickness gauze to control bleeding and absorb fluids after extractions and other oral surgeries, while 12-ply or 16-ply gauze might be packed into an absorption area to apply pressure that protects it from bacteria and encourages clot formation.
It's crucial to choose the right dimensions based on the area of application. For instance, larger sizes may be necessary for extensive surgical sites, while smaller gauze pads may suffice for minor procedures.
We offer different gauze bandage roll sizes to suit minor procedures and major oral operations. You should make sure to have sizes suited for any situation you might encounter. Cutting larger gauze pads can lead to fibers shedding into the wound area and causing complications.
Patient Comfort and Texture
Choose non-woven gauze if your procedure involves serious wounds or difficult extractions. Non-woven gauze is smoother and softer, so there’s less friction and irritation against sensitive healing tissues.
Woven gauze can be used immediately after the extraction. It’s more flexible and conforms better to the extraction surface. But if you are packing a dry socket for more than an hour or two, you should use non-woven gauze vs woven gauze for its softer texture. Learn more in our article on how to use rolled gauze.
My DDS Supply is Your One-Stop Shop for Dental Gauze
My DDS Supply is the eBay storefront of online dental supply stores. Our prices are unbeatable and our customer service is second to none. Whatever gauze you need for your practice, you’ll find it here.
We know dental offices go through a lot of gauze. That’s why we offer quantities of up to 20,000 dental gauze pieces. And we offer a range of sizes suitable for everything from saliva control and simple extractions to large pieces for complex oral surgeries.
In addition to gauze, we offer everything from gloves and masks to aspirator tips and impression materials. Your orders ship fast and we only stock items of the highest quality. Experience the My DDS Supply difference today!
Wrapping Up Our Non-Woven Gauze vs Woven Gauze Comparison
Dentists handle all sorts of issues in their practice. Having a proper supply of the right gauze on hand leads to more successful procedures and greater patient comfort. We hope this guide to woven vs non-woven gauze has left you feeling clear on choosing the best gauze for each patient.
Woven gauze is a good choice for immediate post-extraction hemostasis. But its coarser texture and propensity for linting make it less suitable for prolonged use. Non-woven gauze offers superior absorbency and patient comfort for complex oral surgeries.
You now know the difference between woven and non-woven gauze and which best suits different procedures. And you know that My DDS Supply is the best choice for your practice supply needs. The only thing left to do now is get the best dental supplies and the fastest shipping at My DDS Supply.