Clinical outcomes of a novel technique for the treatment of oroantral fistulas: a 3-year retrospective study

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the fistula mucosal debridement technique in the treatment of small oroantral fistulas with a diameter of ≤ 3 mm. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was carried out on patients who had reported to department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Almanara University, Latakia, Syria, between September 2019 and September 2022. The sample consisted of patients who had small oroantral fistulas that were treated by the fistula mucosal debridement technique. Results The results of this study revealed that the overall healed rate for all oroantral fistulas was 75%. Out of the total number of cases, five fistulas (25%) achieved complete closure after the second debridement, while ten fistulas (50%) demonstrated healing after the third debridement Conclusion The use of the oral mucosal debridement method led to complete closure of the fistula opening (healing) in 75% of oroantral fistula cases after the third debridement in this study. This method is simple, easy to apply and does not require surgery or the use of any other materials to close small oroantral fistulas with a diameter of the fistula opening ≤ 3 mm.