OAC & OAF Flashcards
How do you diagnose an OAC?
Radiographic position of roots in relation to sinus
Bone at trifurcation of roots
Bubbling of blood
Direct vision
Good light and suction
What is the management of an OAC?
Inform patient
Encourage clot to help plug the hole
Suture margins
Post-op instructions;
-avoid nose blowing
-avoid smoking
-avoid sucking through a straw
What may patients with a chronic OAF complain of?
Problems with fluid consumption - fluid from nose
Problems with speech or singing
Problems playing brass/wind instruments
Problems using straw or smoking
Bad taste/odour/halitosis/pus discharge
Pain/sinusitis symptoms
What are the surgical options for fixing an OAF?
ALL involve removal of chronic sinus tract and suturing over hole
Buccal advancement flap
Buccal fat pad with buccal advancement flap
Palatal flap
Bone graft/collagen membrane
How would you describe an OAC to patients?
This is a communication (hole) between the mouth and the air-filled space either side of the nose inside the cheekbones. This sometimes happens when an upper molar, wisdom or premolar tooth is extracted. It can also occur when trying to retrieve a fragment of tooth root that may have broken off. Liquids move from the mouth into the sinus and out the nose.
If left untreated can form an OAF and cause sinusitis
What are the risk factors for creating an OAC?
Extraction of upper molars and premolars
Close relationship of roots to sinus on X-ray
Last standing molars
Large, bulbous roots
Older patient
Previous OAC
Recurrent sinusitis
