Incidence and suggested surgical management of septa in sinus-lift procedures

A variable number of septa, also referred to as Underwood's septa, divide the floor of the maxillary sinus into several recesses and may thus cause various complications during sinus-lift procedures. The incidence of Underwood's septa was evaluated by examining 41 edentulous maxillas. In 13 of these maxillas (31.7% of the cases), sinus floors with at least one septum were observed. Most of the septa were located in the region between the second premolar and the first molar. A possible cause of septal formation could be the variable phases of maxillary sinus pneumatization of the empty alveolar process following tooth extraction.