Question: My dentist recently took out an upper back tooth and left me with a hole into my sinus cavity. I had to be treated by an oral surgeon to fix the problem. What went wrong? - Mr. L., Lake Worth
Answer: A famous oral surgeon with whom I shared the lecture circuit once told me: "If this has not happened to one of your patients yet, you either just graduated dental school or you are lying!"
The fact is that upper back molars, especially ones that stand alone without a neighboring tooth, have roots that practically penetrate the sinus floor. Removal of these teeth often results in an "OAC" - oro-antral communication. (Sounds like an e-mail between two dentists.) Not to worry. A dentist or oral surgeon will put the patient on antibiotics, nasal sprays and a decongestant and see him or her once a week until uneventful closure is realized. Occasionally, larger OAC's require a small surgical procedure under local anesthesia using a rotating flap of tissue or synthetic membranes to close the defect. For more info on this subject or any other dental topic, contact our office at 239-936-5252.