Maxillary sinus dimensions decrease as age and tooth loss increase

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation between patient-dependent variables and dimensional variations of the maxillary sinus. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 394 individual CBCT scans were evaluated by one calibrated examiner to measure the total volume of the maxillary sinus, the distance between the medial and the lateral wall at 5, 10 and 15 mm vertically from the sinus floor, the height of septa (if present), and the height of the maxillary sinus cavity from the both the alveolar crest and the sinus floor to the meatus. Recorded patient-dependent variables were age, gender and edentulism status. Results: Total maxillary sinus volume was significantly smaller in completely and partially edentulous patients as compared to dentate subjects. This finding was influenced by age, as older patients exhibited less volume, regardless of gender and edentulism status. Age showed an indirect correlation with the distance to the meatus, the sinus volume and the medio-lateral dimensions. Additionally, the prevalence of accessory meatus in this population was 29.19%. Conclusions: The dimensions of the maxillary sinus are influenced by age and edentulism status, being reduced by aging and tooth loss.