Augmentation of Therapeutic Efficacy of Extraction of Causative Teeth by Irrigation for Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis is a clinically popular disease, but radical surgery and endoscopic surgery are often required. In the present study, we compared for the first time the therapeutic efficacy of the extraction of causative teeth with or without irrigation of the extraction fossa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients underwent extraction of causative tooth. Among them, 34 patients underwent irrigation, while other 26 patients did not. Based on computed tomography (CT) images, treatment efficacy was quantified by the percentage of the remaining maxillary sinus mucosal lesions. The extent of therapeutic efficacy was evaluated following five grades, based on the percentage of remaining lesions: Grade 1 (0%) (disappearance of lesions), Grade 2 (roughly 10%), Grade 3 (roughly 30%), Grade 4 (approximately 50%) and Grade 5 (100%) (no improvement of the lesions).

RESULTS: Irrigation significantly augmented the therapeutic efficacy of tooth extraction for maxillary sinus mucosal lesions (mean grade: decreasing from 3.27 to 1.35).

CONCLUSION: The combination of tooth extraction and irrigation may contribute to the reduction of the necessity of surgery for the maxillary sinuses.