Background: The information of the association between residual alveolar bone height and mucosal thickening is sparse. This study aimed to explore the effect of maxillary molar periodontal status on sinus mucosal thickening using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Methods: One hundred ninety-four CBCT images were evaluated for the following parameters: age, sex, alveolar bone loss, maximum mucosal thickness (maxMT), minimum residual alveolar bone height (minRABH), and vertical infrabony pockets. The presence of mucosal thickening (maxMT > 2 mm) of the maxillary sinus was recorded. The parameters that could influence the dimensions of the maxillary sinus membrane were assessed. The data were analyzed using logistic regression, and multivariate linear regression with the significant level at α = 0.05.
Results: Mucosal thickening was present in 32% of the analyzed CBCT images and increased in frequency as the periodontal status of the corresponding molar progressed from mild (2.6%) to moderate (14.9%) to severe (75.5%). Mucosal thickness was significantly increased in cases of moderate (odds ratio = 5.73, P < 0.05) and severe (odds ratio = 82.06, P < 0.001) alveolar bone loss. Multivariate linear regression revealed that alveolar bone loss and minRABH had a statistically significant influence on maxMT (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Alveolar bone loss and minRABH were significantly associated with mucosal thickening of the maxillary sinus.
Keywords: cone-beam computed tomography; molars; mucosal thickening; periodontitis.
© 2020 American Academy of Periodontology.