Is an Attachable Oral Wound Dressing Effective at Closing an Acute Oroantral Communication?

Background: An oroantral communication (OAC) is an acute opening after tooth extractions in the posterior maxilla that requires immediate closure. The search for a noninvasive and cost-effective OAC treatment method remains ongoing. Purpose: This study assessed the effect of oral wound dressing (OWD) on acute OACs of 2–5 mm and compared it with suturing sterile gauze (SG) and plasma-rich fibrin (PRF). Study Design, Setting, and Sample: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University. The sample included patients aged >18 years, a 2–5 mm wide OAC without previous maxillary sinus pathology or surgical operation. Predictor Variable: The primary predictor variable was the closure method used: OWD, SG, or PRF. OWD is a new produced and commercially available product that has been used for closure of oral wounds after periodontal or surgical interventions. Main Outcome Variable: The primary outcome variable was OAC closure on postoperative day 30. The secondary outcomes were procedure duration and the pain scores of postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. Covariates: The covariates were age and sex. Analyses: Quantitative variables were compared between groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Qualitative variables were analyzed between groups using the Pearson's χ2 test. Results with a P value .05). The surgical procedure duration was significantly shorter in the OWD group (1.2 ± 0.41 min) than in the SG (5.75 ± 0.97 min) and PRF (19.65 ± 2.74 min) groups (P <.001). Verbal analog scale scores differed significantly among the OWD (1.05 ± 1.43), SG (4.35 ± 2.85), and PRF (2.5 ± 1.82) groups on postoperative day 1 (P <.001). Conclusion and Relevance: OWD is a less invasive and practical method for closing OACs