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Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Endodontic-sinus communications: a 10-year retrospective observational study on maxillary posterior teeth
Calogero Bugea1,2, Francesca Cerutti3, Francesco Sforza4
1Private Practice, Gallipoli, LE, Italy. calogerobugea@yahoo.it.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Unintended endodontic-sinus communication during maxillary posterior tooth endodontic treatment is rare (0.30%). Early recognition and conservative management led to favorable long-term outcomes without surgery.
Area of Science:
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Dental Radiology
Background:
- Endodontic-sinus communication is an uncommon complication during endodontic therapy of maxillary posterior teeth.
- Understanding its incidence, characteristics, and outcomes is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical features, anatomical distribution, and long-term results of unintended endodontic-sinus communications.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of conservative management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 10,345 endodontic treatments over 10 years.
- Identification of endodontic-sinus communication cases, utilizing periapical radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
- Intraoperative Valsalva maneuver for detection; bioceramic obturation and follow-up at 3, 5, and 10 years.
Main Results:
- An incidence of 0.30% (31/10,345) for endodontic-sinus communication was observed.
- Most communications occurred in maxillary molars; 70.97% involved vital primary treatments.
- All 31 patients showed functional teeth and no sinus symptoms or need for surgery at a mean follow-up of 48 months.
Conclusions:
- Unintended endodontic-sinus communication is a rare event in maxillary posterior teeth endodontics.
- Early detection and conservative management, including strict apical control, can lead to favorable outcomes.
- Findings suggest surgery is often unnecessary, but caution is advised due to study limitations.
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