title: Radiographic study of the distribution of maxillary intraosseous vascular canal in Koreans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to investigate the distribution and prevalence of intraosseous loop (anastomosis between posterior superior alveolar artery and infraorbital artery) in Koreans detected on computed tomography (CT) images taken prior to sinus augmentation surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the 177 patients who underwent sinus augmentation with lateral approach at Ewha Womans University Department of Implant Dentistry, 284 CT scans were evaluated. The canal height (CH), ridge height (RH), and canal height from the sinus floor (CHS) were measured on para-axial views at the first premolar, first molar, and second molar. The horizontal positions of the bony canals in the lateral wall were also classified. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) andttest were used to estimate the statistical differences (p< 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intraosseous loops were detected in 92 CT scans (32 %). The mean vertical height of the bony canals from the alveolar crest (CH) was 23.45 ± 2.81, 15.92 ± 2.65, and 16.61 ± 2.92 mm at the second premolar, first molar, and second molar, respectively. In the horizontal positions of the bony canals, intraosseous type was the most predominant. The canal heights more than 15 mm and less than 17 mm were most prevalent (33.7 %) and those under 13 mm were 12.0 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radiographic findings in this study could be used to decide the lateral osteotomy line avoiding potential vascular complication. However, only one third of the canals could be detected in CT scans; a precaution should be taken for the possibility of severe bleeding during lateral osteotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry Jukjeon Dental Hospital, Dankook University, Yongin, South Korea.
authors.forename: JuHyon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0484-3422
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kunkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Nara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Dentistry Daejeon Dental Hospital, Wonkwang University, Deajeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 1071, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-710 South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pang
keywords: Maxillary artery; Posterior superior alveolar artery; Sinus augmentation