The edentulous posterior maxilla is considered a clinical challenge during dental implant treatment for many dental practitioners. This is because its insufficient bone quality, deficient alveolar ridge, spiny ridges, undercuts, and sinus pneumatization are often encountered after tooth loss. To overcome these problems, several approaches have been developed and are currently used, including sinus augmentation and bone augmentation. Today, two main procedures of sinus floor elevation for dental implant placement are in use: a two-stage technique using the lateral window approach, and a one-stage technique using a lateral or a crestal approach. In this study, we deal with the anatomic relations of the structures of the maxillary sinus during sinus augmentation. These anatomical findings can help in complications and potential injuries of the maxillary sinus procedures. It can be suggested that pre-operative evaluation is helpful for diagnosis and treatment planning and minimizing complication during the surgery.
Keywords: Anatomy; Intraoperative complications; Sinus floor augmentation.