PREVALENCE, LOCATION, AND MORPHOLOGY OF MAXILLARY SINUS SEPTA IN A UNITED STATES PATIENT POPULATION

Abstract

Objectives: The presence of sinus septa may cause complications in maxillary sinus elevation surgery such as perforations. CBCT is important for planning the size, shape, and position of the sinus septa, and help separation of the sinus membrane from the bony septum. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence, location and morphology of maxillary sinus septa in patients of Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. Materials and Methods: Eight hundred and twenty one scans taken in Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry between 2009 to July 31, 2013 were evaluated by use of the iCAT software. Age, gender, ethnicity, and dentition status were also evaluated to determine potential relationship of the presence of sinus septa. Results: This study included 680 patients subdivided by gender into 360 female and 320 male, and subdivided by ethnicity into 408 Caucasian, 61 Asian, 51 Hispanic, and 160 African Americans. Septa were present in 303 of 680 patients (44.56%) and 485 of 1360 sinuses (35.7%) evaluated. 26.76% of patients with one or multiple sinus septa were present on both sides of the sinus, and 17.79% of patients with one or multiple septa were present on either right or left side only. Septa height has a mean of 5.26 mm (range of 1.2 to 22.30 mm). Septa were located in premolar, molar, and retromolar regions in 43.4%, 42.03% and 14.6 % respectively. The most common location of the septa is the second premolar region. Orientation of septa was vertical in 67.8 %, transverse 31.68 %, and horizontal 0.005% of cases. Complete septa were found in only 0.01 % of patients evaluated. Conclusions: Incidence of septa was found in 44.56% of the scans. The age, gender, and ethnicity factors are not statistically significant. However, according to the Wald test, the prevalence of septa in Caucasian and Hispanic groups are statistically significant (p< 0.05) from African Americans. Prior to sinus augmentation surgery, CBCT scans should be carefully evaluated for the septa location and height to prevent surgical complication such as perforations.