Reliability of Two Surgical Methods for Oroantral Communication Closure; A Clinical Study of 20 Patients

OACs may close spontaneously, especially when the defect is <5 mm. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, it has never been shown that small OACs (5 mm) heal by themselves. Additionally, it is difficult to determine the size of the OAC clinically. If the communication is not diagnosed and managed properly, there is a risk that an epithelialized permanent oroantral fistula with resultant maxillary sinusitis, a prevalent complication, may develop [5]. To prevent chronic sinusitis and the development of fistulas, it is generally accepted that all of these defects should be closed within 24 to 48 hours [6].