Determination of Alveolar Bone Height According to the Relationship Between Molar Teeth and Maxillary Sinus

Purpose: This study aims to analyze alveolar bone height (ABH) in the maxillary molar area according to the anatomical relationship between maxillary sinus and maxillary molar teeth via cone beam computed tomography images.

Methods: In 330 patients, 660 maxillary first molar (M1) and 648 maxillary second molar (M2) were evaluated. ABH measurements were made as to the shortest distance between the furcation midpoints of maxillary molars and the lowest point of the sinus floor. After the measurement, the positions of the maxillary molar teeth relative to the maxillary sinus were classified into four categories as type 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Results: ABH measurements in males were significantly higher than females (p < 0.05), but there were no differences between sides (p > 0.05). There were significant differences between types of both M1 and M2 for ABH, and the longest ABH was measured in type 1 (p < 0.05). Type 3 was the most common among 1308 maxillary molars teeth followed by type 1, type 2, and type 4.

Conclusion: Determination of the relationship between maxillary molar teeth and the maxillary sinus and analysis of ABH according to this relationship may help plan endodontic treatment, apical surgery, and immediate implant therapy and prevent their complications.