Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2023; 17(04): 1257-1262
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760720
Original Article

Role of CBCT in Prediction of Oro-antral Communication Post Third Molar Extraction: A Retrospective Study

Anupam Singh 
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Murali Venkata Rama Mohan Kodali 
2   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Kalyana Chakravarthy Pentapati 
3   Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Anwesha Chattopadhyay
4   Department of Prosthodontics & Crown and Bridge, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Rhea Shetty
5   Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Vathsala Patil
6   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Srikanth Gadicherla
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Komal Smriti
6   Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations Source of Funding No funding received to conduct the study
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints
Zoom Image

Abstract

Objective Oro-antral communication (OAC) is one of the most frequently encountered complications during third molar extraction. Various radiographic factors, like excessive maxillary sinus pneumatization, long periods of edentulism, periapical lesions, etc., have been considered high-risk factors for OAC. However, a panoramic radiograph has not proven to be accurate in predicting the chances of OAC. Through this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy of a CBCT in predicting the incidence of OAC after maxillary third molar extraction.

Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective study in our department, which included the patients who had undergone extraction of a maxillary third molar over five years with the presence of panoramic X-rays and/or CBCT scans prior to extraction. Primary outcomes assessed from the case files were intra-operative complications like OAC, root fracture, tuberosity fracture, pterygoid plate fracture, etc. The incidence of these complications was correlated with the presence or absence of CBCT before extraction.

Results Out of 920 extracted maxillary third molar, only 148 teeth (16.1%) had a CBCT record before extraction. The most commonly encountered complication was broken inaccessible root piece/s (4.9%), followed by OAC (3.5%). An inter-group comparison showed that a significantly higher percentage of patients (p < 0.001) with CBCT records had an incidence of OAC (11.5%) as against the group of patients with no CBCT record (1.9%).

Conclusion A CBCT scan prior to cases with high-risk factors for OAC can be a valuable tool in accurately predicting the chances of OAC after maxillary third molar extraction.

Keywords

CBCT scan - oro-antral communication - maxillary third molar - tuberosity fracture

Ethics

Institutional Ethical Committee approval (KH-IEC: 1073-2019)


Statement of Informed Consent

Not required as this was a retrospective study.


Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.




Publication History

Article published online:
19 June 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India