OROANTRAL COMMUNICATION, ITS CAUSES, COMPLICATIONS, TREATMENTS AND RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES: A PICTORIAL REVIEW

F. Tricca¹, F. Postiglione¹ , C. Bugea² , I. Alla², S. A. Gehrke³ , A. Scarano¹

¹ Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
² Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
³ Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain

Correspondence to:

Annals of Stomatology 2022 May-August; 2(2): 71-78
https://doi.org/10.69129/stomatol/2022v2iss2_6

Received: 21 May 2022 Accepted: 18 June 2022

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Abstract

The term oroantral communication is used indiscriminately in literature as a synonym for ‘oro-antral perforation’, ‘antro-oral communication’ (OAC), ‘oroantral fistula’ (OAF), ‘antro-alveolar fistula’. Although these terms are synonyms, OAF develops when the OAC does not close spontaneously, remains manifest, and becomes epithelialized. The development of this epithelized tissue represents a pathological pathway for bacteria and is generally thought to be generated soon, at least 48/72 h from the creation of the communication. The aim of this review was to provide a pictorial review of incidence and treatment for oroantral communications and fistulas and to avoid the risk of recurrence. By conducting an electronic search on the MEDLINE bibliographic database (Pubmed), 63 articles with a period from 1994 to 2021 were selected using the following algorithm: “sinus lift” OR “sinus augmentation” OR “sinus graft” OR “maxillary sinus floor elevation” OR “sinus floor augmentation” AND”oro-antral communication” OR “antro-oral communication” OR ” oroantral communication” OR “oro-antral fistula” OR “oroantral fistula” OR “oro-sinusal communication” OR “antro-alveolar fistula” OR “fistula” OR “oro-sinusal fistula” OR “sinus-oral fistula” OR “sinus communication” OR “OAF”. The electronic search yielded 63 articles. No language restrictions were applied, and only cohort studies were considered, excluding case series, case reports, RCTs, and CCTs. Titles and abstracts were examined using the previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After thorough analysis, 21 articles were excluded, and 3 studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative data synthesis. The incidence of AOC, regardless of the technique used, appears to be a relatively rare complication. The surgical protocols used, the surgeon’s experience, implant management, and intra-operative complications could play an active role in post-operative complications. Further studies are needed to establish a comparison between the techniques.

Keywords: floor elevation, maxillary sinus, oroantral communication, sinus augmentation, sinus graft, sinus lift