Variation in bucco-palatal maxillary sinus width does not permit a meaningful sinus classification.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Bucco-palatal sinus width (SW) is crucial for successful maxillary sinus (MS) floor augmentation and graft consolidation.
• Understanding SW variations is essential for pre-surgical planning in dental implantology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess SW at different height levels above the maxillary sinus floor.
• To identify factors influencing SW, such as gender, tooth position, and residual alveolar ridge dimensions.
• To determine the feasibility of a simple sinus classification based on SW.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography scans of 76 edentulous and 86 partially edentulous maxillary quadrants were analyzed.
• Measurements included alveolar ridge height, sinus area, and SW at various height levels (2-10 mm above the sinus floor).
• Statistical analysis assessed the influence of gender, tooth position (premolar/molar), tooth-gap extent, and ridge dimensions on SW.

Main Results:

• Tooth position significantly impacted all evaluated MS dimensions, unlike gender or tooth-gap extent.
• A lower residual alveolar ridge correlated with a wider MS, while a wider ridge also led to a wider MS.
• Significant variations in SW were observed across different height levels and tooth positions, precluding simple classification.

Conclusions:

• A simple "narrow," "average," or "wide" classification of the maxillary sinus based on SW is not feasible due to significant variations.
• Narrow sinuses (<10 mm) are more common in the premolar region, whereas wide sinuses (>15 mm) are prevalent in the molar region.
• A wider and shorter residual alveolar ridge is associated with a wider bucco-palatal sinus width.