title: Use of pedicled buccal fat pad in the closure of oroantral communication: analysis of 75 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report evaluates the use of pedicled buccal fat pad for closure of oroantral communications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients were treated with pedicled buccal fat pad. Fifty-two were treated immediately after tooth extractions. The remaining 23 had chronic oroantral communication and were treated similarly after irrigation of the maxillary sinus with saline for 7 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 6-month follow-up revealed uneventful healing in all of the patients. Though partial necrosis of the flap was observed in three patients, this did not effect the final healing. Total necrosis of the flap was not noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of pedicled buccal fat pad is an acceptable and reliable alternative in acute or chronic oroantral communications management and may even be used as a first treatment choice by experienced surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolanmaz
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tuz
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metin
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Timucin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baykul
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002610:Cheek; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects