ABSTRACT
Oro-antral communications (OAC) greater than 4-5 mm in diameter can seldom be counted on to heal spontaneously without the necessity for surgical closure. The initial experience in applying an absorbable polyglactin/polydioxanon implant (Ethisorb(®)), in non-surgical closure of OAC ranging from 5 to 7 mm in diameter, is presented. Twelve patients of varying ages with OAC up to 72 h in duration, have been treated with Ethisorb(®). Failures were not demonstrated in the form of the creation of an oro-antral fistula (OAF), and in all patients, OAC-s were closed with the epithelization of post-extraction wounds up to 21 days after implantation of Ethisorb(®). Based on these initial encouraging results, we propose that an Ethisorb(®) biopolymeric absorbable implant can be used in selected clinical cases for non-surgical closure of OAC.
