THE USE OF BUCCAL ALVEOLAR BONE IN CLOSURE OF OROANTRAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

Closure of ten cases of small or moderate size oroantral communication resulting from the extraction of maxillary posterior teeth using a buccal flap which was described by Rehrmann'' together with collapsing the buccal plate of bone towards the palatal cortical bone after removal of any inter-radicular bone if present as described by Dean '?)

This technique can be used in cases when the sinus is free from sinusitis, or after control of sinusitis by the use of specific antibiotics systemically and irrigation of the maxillary sinus by normal saline solution and the specific antibiotic. Our results showed seven successes and three failures. Good results of our work are obtained if the ostia1 opening is patent and if the patient follows post-operative instructions of using decongestant nasal drops and preventing any pressure factor of suction or blowing on the wound.

ff the ostial opening is not patent nasal antrostomy is recommended.

If any foreign body as a tooth fragment is present in the sinus either Caldwell- Luc operation or transalveolar technique is used to remove the foreign body in the sinus together with nasal antrostomy.

The presence of a good buccal cortical plate of bone will keep a good ridge, and this will over come the loss of the sulcus depth resulting after the use of the buccal flap, and this will give a chance for a better denture reception.