ASSESSMENT OF BONE MORPHOLOGY AND STATUS OF MAXILLARY SINUS IN THE POSTERIOR MAXILLA: THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS FOR IMPLANT THERAPY

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess morphologicfeatures of alveolar bone supporting maxillary premolars andmolars and to determine the relationship between maxillarysinus and teeth using cone beam computed tomography(CBCT).Material and Methods: In CBCT scans of 100 patients, thethickness of both trabecular bone and cortical plates surrounding652 posterior teeth were measured and the relationship betweenteeth and maxillary sinus was classified. Also, the anglebetween the teeth and the alveolar crest was measured.Results: Of the teeth examined, 25 % were in contact with theinferior wall of maxillary sinus, 12% had penetrated the sinusand 63 % were far away from maxillary sinus. The closest rootto the maxillary sinus floor was mesiobuccally root of secondmolar teeth with 1.3 mm distance. The teeth which had thinnestbone configuration were maxillary first premolars. There wereno significant differences for measurements between sides andgender (p>005). Buccal bone thickness and distance to themaxillary sinus floor showed a negative correlation in molars(p?0.001 and 0.003).Conclusion: In order to prevent possible complications, a threedimensional analysis of the posterior maxilla and maxillarysinus is required before implant procedures to be performed onthe maxillary posterior region.