The clinical results of buccal advanced flap for the closure of oroantral perforations

Abstract

Aim of this study was to evaluate the success of buccal sliding flap used in the
reconstruction of oroantral defects, and clarify its indications and size limitations. In
this prospective clinical study, buccal Sliding flap was used for closure of oroantral
defect in 23 patients with different indications which included; 4 defects resulting
from maxillary cysts (radicular and residual cyst) ,12 newly created medium size oroantral
communications, 7 cases with chronic oroantral fistula. The defect diameter
range between 3-8 mm. Patients were evaluated for signs of flap epithelialization,
infection, and fistulae recurrence.
The epithelialization process was completed in 19 patients after 2 weeks without
any complication. However, partial dehiscence of the flap occurred in 4 patients with
chronic oroantral fistula.
The results of this series support the view that the use of buccal sliding flap is a
simple, convenient, and reliable method for the reconstruction of small to mediumsized
oroantral defects with minimum complications.