Oro-antral Communication
Also written as: OAC — Oro-antral Communication
An abnormal opening between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus, typically arising as a complication of upper molar extraction.
Full Definition
An oro-antral communication (OAC) is a pathological connection between the oral cavity and the maxillary antrum (sinus), most commonly created inadvertently during extraction of an upper posterior tooth whose root approximates or penetrates the sinus floor. If undetected and untreated, it may progress to an oro-antral fistula (OAF), in which an epithelialised tract forms. Editors should hyphenate 'oro-antral' consistently, as the solid and spaced forms are considered non-standard. The distinction between OAC (acute, non-epithelialised) and OAF (chronic, epithelialised) is clinically significant and must be preserved in manuscripts.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'oro-antral'. Distinguish carefully from 'oro-antral fistula' (OAF), which implies chronicity and epithelialisation.
In Context
- "A positive Valsalva test confirmed the presence of an oro-antral communication following extraction of the upper left first molar." — Surgical case note
- "The manuscript used 'oro antral' without a hyphen throughout; this was corrected to the standard hyphenated form 'oro-antral' at the copy-editing stage." — Copy-editing report