title: Maxillary Sinus Dimensions With Respect to the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery Decrease With Tooth Loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The posterior superior alveolar (PSA) artery is frequently encountered in the area where the lateral osteotomy is performed during direct sinus augmentation procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between patient-dependent variables and measurements related to PSA using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-four CBCT scans were evaluated to assess the PSA artery diameter and distances to the sinus floor and to alveolar crest. Patient's age, gender, and edentulism status were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PSA artery tends to be wider in older patients. Distances to the sinus floor or the alveolar crest tend to be shorter in women and in partially and completely edentulous patients. Also, as those distances decrease, the mediolateral width of the sinus increases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tooth loss leads to maxillary sinus vertical collapse with respect to the PSA artery. The position of the artery is stable; so, the mediolateral dimensions at different heights from the floor increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduced distances from the PSA to the sinus floor and the alveolar crest in edentulous patients potentially increase the risk of injury during maxillary sinus lift. Additionally, when the distance to the sinus floor decreases, the mediolateral dimensions of the sinus at different heights increase, which may complicate the technique and challenge the outcomes.
authors.affiliation: *Predoctoral Student, Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. †Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. ‡Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. §Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and IBIMER, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. ¶Professor, Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. ‖Professor, Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco-Torres
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Padial-Molina
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: OʼValle
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galindo-Moreno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult