The use of buccal fat pad in closure of oroantral communications ; the royal medical services experience

Abstract EN

Objectives : to evaluate the use of the buckle fat pad in closure of oriental communications.

Methods : Fifty three patients with different sizes of oriental fistulas were treated with a pedicle buckle fat pad to close these defects between 2003 and 2008, with minimal follow up of two months.

The age, sex, and etiology were recorded.

Results : Fifty three patients (34 males and 19 females) were treated, ranging age from 17 to 73 years.

The reasons of the oriental communication were due to dental extraction of upper premolars, molars, excision of cystic lesions, implant removal and different kinds of tumors.

The procedure was successful among 52 patients.

Postoperatively, the orally exposed fat gradually was transformed into a granulation-like tissue and epithelization developed within 3 weeks.

Conclusions: Use of the buckle fat pad is a safe and easy method to be used in oriental communications closure and the procedure has wide applications and a high degree of success.

Good vascularization, ease of access, and minimal donor site morbidity make it a reliable soft tissue graft.