Evaluation of maxillary sinus anatomical variation and pathologies through cone-beam computed tomography in patients with impacted third molars in the maxilla

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare between the frequency of anatomical variation and pathology in the maxillary sinuseshaving the impacted third molars in the maxilla adjacent to the dental arch and the maxillary sinuses adjacent to the dental archhaving the erupted third molars.Material and Methods: A total of 284 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the maxillary sinuses, 141 of whichare adjacent to the impacted third molar teeth in the maxilla, and 143 of which are adjacent to the erupted third molar teeth, wereretrospectively evaluated. In the CBCT images, the pathology, septa, accessory ostium, overpneumatization, Haller cell and teeth rootrelation with sinus were evaluated in each maxillary sinus.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of pathology (p = 0.402), septa (p = 0.904) andoverpneumatization (p = 0.798) between the maxillary sinuses adjacent to the impacted third molar dental arch and the eruptedthird molar dental arch. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of accessory ostium (p = 0.032) andHaller cells (p = 0.025) between the maxillary sinuses adjacent to the impacted third molar dental arch and the maxillary sinusesadjacent to the erupted third molar dental arch.Conclusion: In the present study, the frequency of accessory ostium and Haller cells in the maxillary sinuses adjacent to impactedthird molar dental arches of the maxilla was found to be lower than in the maxillary sinuses adjacent to erupted third molar dentalarches.