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Oro-antral communication (OAC) acts as a pathway for bacteria between the maxillary sinus and oral cavity, and is a common complication after the removal of a dental implant or extraction of a tooth from the maxillary posterior area. In the case of an untreated OAC, oro-antral fistula develops and becomes epithelialized. We aimed to introduce a treatment for OAC closure via a sinus bone grafting procedure using bone tacks and a collagen membrane with an allograft. The procedure was performed by applying an absorbable membrane made in pouch form. This membrane acted as a barrier for closing the large sinus membrane perforation. Bone tacks were used to fix the membranes. Subsequently, the maxillary sinus was filled with the allograft, and the absorbable membrane was reapplied. Primary closure was achieved by performing a periosteum-releasing incision for a tension-free suture. After 6 months, sufficient bone dimensions were gained without any occurrence of maxillary sinusitis or recurrence of OAC. Additional bone grafts and implantation could be performed to rehabilitate the maxillary posterior area. We conclude that this technique might be a useful treatment for reconstructing the maxillary posterior area with simultaneous sinus bone graft and OAC closure.

This study aimed to clinically and radiographically evaluate the results of guided bone regeneration (GBR) using three-dimensional preformed titanium mesh (3-D-PFTM) for non-contained horizontal defects in 100 consecutive cases. This study involved 100 patients (129 implants) with peri-implant non-contained horizontal defects. The patients were divided into three groups: 3-D-PFTM alone (Group 1), 3-D-PFTM plus cross-linked collagen membrane (Group 2), and 3-D-PFTM plus non-cross-linked collagen membrane (Group 3). Each implant was evaluated radiographically using CBCT at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. At the platform level, the mean horizontal hard tissue gain of all the sites was 3.1 ± 1.3 mm at 6 months postoperatively. The mean rate of mesh exposure was 11.8% in Group 1, 4.2% in Group 2, and 5.0% in Group 3. The mean hard tissue gain rate was 71.0 ± 23.0% in group 1, 84.2 ± 21.5% in group 2, and 84.0 ± 22.9% in group 3. Groups 2 and 3 showed significantly higher hard tissue gain rates than group 1. However, there was no significant difference between the rates in groups 2 and 3. Within the limitations of this study, 3-D-PFTM should be considered as a valuable option for GBR for peri-implant non-contained horizontal defects. The use of an additional resorbable collagen membrane provides additional advantages.