References

Bell GW, Macleod I, Darcey JC, Campbell C. The maxillary sinus: what the general dental team need to know Part 1: Paranasal sinus physiology, infective disease and diagnosis of pain. Dent Update. 2020; 47:314-325
Bell GW, Macleod I, Darcey JC, Campbell C. The maxillary sinus: what the general dental team need to know Part 2: Removal of teeth; avoidance and management of complications. Dent Update. 2020; 47:405-414
Khandelwal P, Hajira N. Management of oro-antral communication and fistula: various surgical options. World J Plast Surg. 2017; 6:3-8
Chandrasena F, Singh A, Visavadia BG. Removal of a root from the maxillary sinus using functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010; 48:558-559
Gerlock AJ, Sinn DP. Anatomic, clinical, surgical, and radiographic correlation of the zygomatic complex fracture. AJR (Am J Roentgenol). 1977; 128:235-238 https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.128.2.235

Additional dental ramifications of the maxillary sinus

From Volume 47, Issue 8, September 2020 | Page 689

Authors

Avraj Sohanpal

DCT1 East Lancashire Hospitals Trust

Articles by Avraj Sohanpal

Aitor de Gea Rico

Specialist Registrar ELHT East Lancashire Hospitals Trust

Articles by Aitor de Gea Rico

Gary Cousin

Consultant ELHT East Lancashire Hospitals Trust

Articles by Gary Cousin

Article

We read with interest the series by Bell et al, ‘The maxillary sinus: what the general dental team need to know’.1,2 The series is most informative, and we would like to indicate some other areas of the dental relevance of the maxillary sinus.

The authors discuss the role of trans-alveolar removal of dental roots displaced into the sinus. This is a widely used and accepted technique. However, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive technique for the removal of foreign bodies from the maxillary sinus. Under general anaesthesia, an endoscope is placed in the nostril, and an opening created under endoscopic vision in the inferior meatus. The camera is advanced into the sinus, and grasping forceps used to retrieve the root.

The authors outline the technique of closing an oro-antral communication (OAC) by means of a buccal advancement flap. In cases of chronic oro-antral fistulae, there is evidence that such surgery is combined with FESS to increase antral drainage by creating additional drainage of the sinus via the inferior meatus. Various techniques to close OACs are described, including buccal and palatal advancement flaps.3 In cases of chronic fistulae, the mucoperiosteal flap is augmented with a buccal fat pad flap.3,4 FESS has a complication rate of less than 1%.4

Other findings that we would like to share are the radiographic signs of zygomatic complex fractures, showing as discontinuity of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus, and air/fluid levels in the sinus. These features can be seen in occipitomental (OM) radiographs, or sometimes on orthopantomograms (Figure 1).5

Figure 1. 30-degree OM view. Left zygomatic fracture revealing a maxillary sinus lateral wall fracture. Subtle alteration of the left infra-orbital rim, and a fracture at the junction of the arch and body of the zygoma are also apparent.