Objectives: The aim of the present study was to carry out an anatomic survey on the goat maxillary sinus in order to provide accurate and definite anatomic parameters for the design of sinus floor elevation and dental implantation studies in this valuable preclinic animal model.
Material and methods: The anatomic topographic structure of the maxillary sinuses was studied bilaterally in 10 adult goats by a gross survey as well as a histological analysis with parasagittal or coronal sections. Then following parameters were defined and measured: (1) maxillary alveolar height (MAH): vertical height from the alveolar crest to the sinus floor; (2) sinus lateral floor width (SLFW): horizontal distance from the lateral border of the anteroposterior bone crest to the sinus lateral wall; (3) infraorbital canal diameter (ICD); and (4) maxillary sinus volume (MSV): the volume occupied by water injected into the sinus. The data were presented with mean + or - SD on both sides.
Results: The goat has a maxillary sinus similar to humans, with a slender pyramidal shape that pneumatizes the entire maxilla, and a sinus wall covered with a mucosal lining. From the maxillary sinus floor, there is an anteroposterior bone crest protruding with the infraorbital canal enveloped. It divides the maxillary sinus floor into two parts. The SLFW of the lateral part of the maxillary sinus floor becomes broader, about 5.905 + or - 1.475 mm in the third premolar site, and the MAH increases towards the posterior area, where the maxillary sinus floor is close to the related teeth roots. According to original metrical data, we also proposed a possible operation procedure for sinus floor augmentation.
Conclusions: There is enough space in the lateral floor of the maxillary sinus for dental implantation, and the third premolar area might be a suitable position suggested for maxillary sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement in a goat model.