Influence of caldwell‐luc operation on developing permanent teeth

The influence of Caldwell-Luc operation on the permanent teeth of school children was studied in a material of 21 six to 14-year-old children, who had undergone, altogether, 30 Caldwell-Luc operations. Ten of the children had also undergone 23 endonasal antrostomies. The control material consisted of a class of 27 healthy school children, their mean age being 10.2 years. Total anesthesia was found in five teeth on the operated side and in one tooth on the non-operated side. Additionally, the operation had caused slight hypesthesia in part of the teeth, mostly in the first incisors. All sensory disturbances were caused by nerve lesion only, and no tooth had died as a result of the operation. The operation could not be shown to be conducive to caries. Correctly performed, Caldwell-Luc operation does not cause serious dental injuries in school children, and is indicated especially in chronic sinobronchitis when conservative methods of treatment fail.