Dental maxillary sinus pathology: a CBCT-based case-control study

This study evaluated the association between dental infection and maxillary sinus pathology, and the influence of age, sex, type of tooth, root proximity to the sinus floor, the condition of the primary maxillary ostium, and the presence of an accessory maxillary ostium in this process. Computed Tomography scans were selected, and upper posterior teeth were evaluated for the presence of apical periodontitis (AP), bone loss with furcation involvement, and endoperiodontal lesion (EPL), subsequently, sinuses were evaluated for mucosal thickening (MT) and opacification of the maxillary sinus (OMS). Logistic regression models were constructed, and Chi-squared and Fisher's tests were applied. Patients with AP were 15.63 times (7.576;32.268) and, 25.97 times (16.22,41.56) more likely to have MT and OMS, respectively. No teeth were associated with EPL in the group without sinus pathology, indicating a strong association with OMS. Male patients were 1.30 times more likely to have MT, and 5.86 times more likely to have OMS than female patients. The condition of the ostium, presence of an accessory ostium, type of tooth, and proximity of the root to the sinus floor were not associated with MT or OMS. In conclusion, male sex and the presence of AP and EPL are associated with maxillary sinus pathology.