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Office-Based Maxillofacial Surgical Procedures pp 179–198Cite as

Management of Oroantral Communications

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Abstract

An oroantral communication (OAC) is a pathologic opening between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus. OACs occur most often as a result of surgical manipulation during dental extraction of posterior teeth but can also occur as a result of other maxillofacial surgical procedures, facial trauma or pathologic processes of the maxilla. If the OAC remains patent for a prolonged period of time, and the surface of the tract epithelializes, it often becomes a permanent pathologic condition known as an oroantral fistula (OAF). These pathologic tracts may require medical and/or surgical management. Over the years, various techniques to manage them have been described. In this chapter we discuss the etiology of OACs and OAFs, the relevant anatomy, and surgical techniques both for avoiding development of pathologic communications and for repair of them if they occur.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Kristopher Cooper

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  1. Kristopher Cooper
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Correspondence to Kristopher Cooper .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Greater Waterbury OMS, Beau Visage Med Spa, Cheshire, CT, USA

    Elie M. Ferneini

  2. Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA

    Michael T. Goupil

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Cooper, K. (2019). Management of Oroantral Communications. In: Ferneini, E., Goupil, M. (eds) Office-Based Maxillofacial Surgical Procedures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22371-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22371-7_11

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