The buccofacial wall of maxillary sinus: an anatomical consideration for sinus augmentation.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to quantify the thickness of the buccofacial wall of the maxillary sinus where sinus augmentations are often performed.


METHODS
Fourteen sites located 15 and 20 mm superior to the anatomical cervical line (named as groups H15 and H20, respectively) and along the long axes of the mid and the interproximal of two premolars and two molars were measured from 74 Korean hemiface cadavers.


RESULTS
The buccofacial wall of the maxillary sinus was thinnest at the area between the maxillary second premolar and first molar in groups H15 and H20. The lowest mean thickness was 1.2 mm in both groups. The walls were thicker in males than in females, with statistically significant gender differences found at four and two sites on the anterior horizontal reference in groups H15 and H20, respectively. However, the thickness did not differ significantly with age or laterality. Incomplete septa were found in seven of the 74 specimens, and they were present in the area between the first and second molars in six (86%) of these cases.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations indicate that anatomical characteristics of the buccofacial wall thickness of the maxillary sinus need to be considered when performing a window opening procedure for sinus augmentation.
Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
Hun-Mu
HM
Yang
Hanna Eun Kyong
HE
Bae
Sung-Yoon
SY
Won
Kyung-Seok
KS
Hu
Woo-Chul
WC
Song
Doo-Jin
DJ
Paik
Hee-Jin
HJ
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D015519:Bone Density; D002102:Cadaver; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics