Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the success rates of two surgical techniques used for the closure of the oroantral fistula.
Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were identified from electronic databases (PubMed, LILACS, Semantic Scholar, Cochrane Library, Rutgers University Library, and Europe PMC) from 1959 to 2021. The inclusion criteria were recent studies in English, studies involving human subjects, and studies comparing the buccal fat pad (BFP) and buccal advancement flap (BAF) techniques.
A total of 1455 records were initially identified. After screening, only 4 studies were included in the final analysis: 1 retrospective study and 3 comparative studies.
Results: The pooled relative risk (RR) indicated a significant difference, with the Buccal Advancement Flap showing a slightly lower probability of success compared to the Buccal Fat Pad Flap for oroantral fistula closure (RR 0.914, 95% CI: 0.836 - 0.998). No heterogeneity was detected among the included studies (I² = 0.0%, P = 0.452).
Conclusion: Both techniques are safe and simple and demonstrate high success rates. The BFP technique is particularly advantageous for closing oroantral fistulas larger than 5 mm when preserving the depth of the vestibular sulcus is required or in cases where the BAF technique has failed.
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