The epidemiological pattern of oroantral communication – a retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction. Oroantral communication (OAC) between the maxillary sinus and the oral cavity is an infrequent post-surgical complication occurring most commonly after extraction of posterior maxillary teeth. Aim. To present the characteristics of OAC and predisposing factors as well as evaluate postoperative pharmacological therapy and complications in patients with an OAC. Material and methods. In this retrospective study, medical records of 63 patients with diagnosed OAC between 2011 and 2018 were analyzed. Results. The most frequent causes for tooth extraction leading to an OAC were periodontitis (n=34; 54%), carious destruction of the tooth (n=14; 22.2%), and tooth impaction (n=10; 16%). First molars (n=28; 44.4%), second molars (n=14; 22.2%) and third molars (n= 13; 20.6%) were the most frequently related teeth to OACs. The majority of OACs appeared in the fourth (n=22; 35%) and third (n=20; 31.7%) decades of life. Conclusion. OACs are rarely seen on an everyday basis by general practitioners; however, if left untreated, they may lead to further serious complications. Proper postoperative precautions must be taken in order to prevent further complications, and thus the evaluation of predisposing factors is of great importance.