Evaluating the Distance between Posterior Teeth and the Maxillary Sinus Floor Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Background and Objectives The topography of the sinus floor and its relationship with maxillary teeth roots varies with age, pneumatization size and grade, positioning of the teeth, and Genetics. This study used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate the distance between posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus floor in patients in Rafsanjan City, Iran. Materials and Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated 35 CBCT radiographs from patients older than 20 years who attended a private oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic in Rafsanjan City for dentistry procedures. They were undergone CBCT imaging.  After obtaining multi-planar reformatted (MPR) images, a maxillofacial radiologist measured the vertical relationships between all roots of posterior maxillary teeth and the maxillary sinus floor and classified them as described by Didilescu. The obtained data were entered into SPSS 21.0. Results Generally, the distobuccal root of the second molars had the shortest distance from the maxillary sinus floor. Statistical tests showed no significant relationships between the measured distances and variables of age, gender, or the assessed region. Conclusion Since the distance between posterior maxillary teeth and maxillary sinus floor was mostly type 0 in the population of Rafsanjan, clinicians had better use CBCT to obtain adequate knowledge of anatomy and morphological details of tooth roots before any treatments, especially surgical procedures.