TREATMENT MODALITIES OF OROANTRAL COMMUNICATION AND FISTULA

Abstract

The oroantral communication and fistula is an epithelialized pathological communication between the maxillary sinus and the oral cavity (antrum; oral) which may be located iatrogenically or of any pathological origin. This may occur as complications after tooth extraction, due to the presence of oroantral communication, or may be present due to a hole in the sinus floor and antrum, which may occur after extraction due to an infected root, due to carious process in the second premolar or first molar teeth, or may be due to severe periodontitis and mobility of these teeth within the affected quadrant of the maxilla, or due to trauma and dentoalveolar injury. Usually, the congenital or pathological oroantral communication occurs without the patient's knowledge and the patient seeks treatment only when he gets symptoms of sinus infection. This condition may cause an oroantral fistula to form and the patient may feel a salty taste in the mouth. Blowing of the nose may cause the development of sinus or may aggravate the sinusitis on the same side. This condition is clearly explained by the history given by the patient and by symptoms of constant runny nose (rhinorrhea) and positive findings in the affected sinus in the case of X-ray or transillumination. (Bhalla et al.2021)