title: Bioabsorbable root analogue for closure of oroantral communications after tooth extraction: a prospective case-cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical capacity of a bioabsorbable root analog to close oroantral perforations after extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective case-cohort study, 20 consecutive patients with oroantral communications greater than 2 mm were treated with a bioabsorbable root analog (RootReplica). Patients were followed up clinically and radiographically for 3 months to monitor the healing process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Root replicas could be placed in 14 patients, whereas 6 patients required the socket to be covered with a buccal sliding flap. In the latter cases, fragmentary roots or overly large defects prohibited replica fabrication or accurate fitting of the analog, respectively. Healing was uneventful in all patients, and epistaxis, swelling, or pain was observed only in patients treated with flaps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method described is a valuable alternative method with which to close oroantral communications but cannot be performed in all patients because of technical limitations.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Gion F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pajarola
authors.forename: Klaus W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Grätz
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Schmidlin
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014092:Tooth Root
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)