Morphometric analysis of sinus depth in the posterior maxilla and proposal of a novel classification.
The aim of this study was to analyse the posterior maxillary sinus based on its extension into the alveolar process and to provide a simple clinical classification. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in CT scans of 200 dentate and 200 edentulous patients (100 women and 100 men, respectively). After manual placement of 12 reference points morphometric analysis was performed and sinus depth, residual alveolar ridge height (RH) and the sinus opening angle were calculated. Sinuses were classified according to the quartiles of sinus depth: class I (above the hard palate), class II (0-6 mm below the hard palate) and class III (>6 mm below the hard palate). Sinus depth was found to be a reliable anatomical landmark and did not vary significantly between gender (p = 0.8940) or dentition groups (p = 0.9723). Alveolar height varied significantly between sinus classes (p < 2 × 10-16) and dentition groups (p < 2 × 10-16) but not between genders (p = 0.5178). The sinus opening angle was significantly different between sinus classes (p < 2.2 × 10-16) but not between gender or dentition groups. We propose a novel classification built upon the quartiles of sinus depth, dividing the sinuses into three classes. Our classification is the first one that represents the anatomy of the patient independent of gender and dentition.
University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Florian
F
Wagner
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Gabriella
G
Dvorak
University Clinic for Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Stefan
S
Nemec
Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Peter
P
Pietschmann
Department of Systematic Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Hannes
H
Traxler
University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Kurt
K
Schicho
University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Rudolf
R
Seemann
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D003817:Dentition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed