Factors associated with sinus membrane thickness in the posterior maxilla

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the factors associated with mucosal thickness in the maxillary sinus of individuals referred for dental implant placement in the posterior maxilla. One hundred and fifty-two cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients who were scheduled to receive dental implants were studied. CBCT was used to evaluate periodontal conditions and Schneiderian membrane thickness. Other factors that were examined included age, gender, smoking, time since the removal of the last tooth, and the season in which the of the CBCT scan were acquired. Periodontal bone level (p = 0.027) and gender (p = 0.009) were the factors that influenced the sinus membrane thickness. No statistically significant association was seen between membrane thickness and age, smoking, time since the removal of the last tooth, presence of periapical lesions, previous root canal treatment in the region of interest, or the seasons in which the scan was acquired. We showed that gender and periodontal bone loss were significantly associated with the thickness of maxillary sinus membranes. This finding indicates that treating periodontal inflammation might reduce the size of the membrane. Overall, CBCT imaging can be regarded as a valuable diagnostic method to evaluate areas that are difficult to examine, such as maxillary sinuses and periodontal areas, before implant surgery.