Closure of Oroantral Communication Using Guided Tissue Regeneration and an Absorbable Gelatin Membrane

Surgical intervention into the maxillary posterior area can lead to inadvertent communication with the maxillary sinus. Spontaneous healing of 1 to 2 mm openings can occur. However, in patients with larger oroantral communications and those with a history of sinus disease, surgical closure is often indicated. Acute and chronic oroantral fistula and sinusitis can occur as a result of inadequate treatment. The most common causes of complications include inadequate site preparation, flap closure, flap necrosis, infection, and patient non-compliance. A technique for the closure of oroantral communications using guided tissue regeneration is described. This technique utilizes an absorbable gelatin film (membrane), allogenic bone graft material (DFDBA), and non-resorbable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. The gelatin membrane prevents displacement of graft material into the antrum and sinus epithelial cell migration, while the ePTFE membrane promotes selective cell population with subsequent regeneration of the osseous wall of the oroantral defect.