A Proposed Classification for Oroantral Communication to Ease the Decision-Making in Management.

Abstract

Oroantral communication (OAC) is a condition characterised by a pathological connection between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus. Communication between the maxillary sinus and oral cavity is a fairly typical complication in oral surgery and occurs frequently on the sites of upper first molar, followed by the second molar, third molar and bicuspid. Although smaller defects of less than 5 mm in diameter are known to close spontaneously, larger communications always require proper surgical closure. If the communication fails to be diagnosed and managed properly, there is a risk of developing an epithelialized permanent oroantral fistula and maxillary sinusitis is a prevalent complication. Other complications include osteomyelitis, candidal infection, etc. A classification scheme for oroantral communication is necessary for clinicians to properly diagnose and treat patients. The purpose of this article is to standardise the classification of OAC, so an effective treatment modality can be structured. This can aid in treatment planning on encountering such complications during any procedure.