Evaluating the Distance Between Posterior Teeth and the Maxillary Sinus Floor Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

The topography of the sinus floor and its relationship with maxillary teeth roots vary with age, pneumatization size and grade, positioning of the teeth, and genetics.

This study used Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to evaluate the distance between posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus floor in patients of Rafsanjan, Iran.

This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated 35 CBCT radiographs of patients over 20 years old, who were referred to a private oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic in Rafsanjan for dentistry procedures. CBCT imaging was performed. After obtaining Multi-Planar Reformatted (MPR) images, a maxillofacial radiologist measured the vertical relationships between all roots of posterior maxillary teeth and the maxillary sinus floor and classified them as described by Didilescu et al. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS V. 21.

Generally, the distobuccal root of the second molars had the shortest distance from the maxillary sinus floor. The statistical tests showed no significant relationships among the measured distances and age, gender, or the assessed region.

Since the distance between posterior maxillary teeth and maxillary sinus floor was mostly type 0 in the population of Rafsanjan, clinicians are recommended to use CBCT to obtain adequate knowledge of anatomy and morphological details of tooth roots before any treatment, especially surgical procedures.