# Assessment of maxillary posterior teeth pathologies and its association with maxillary sinus alterations—A Cone Beam Computed Tomography study

## TL;DR

This study uses CBCT scans to show that maxillary posterior tooth issues are linked to sinus mucosal thickening, with cortical changes affecting prevalence.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the association between maxillary posterior tooth pathologies and sinus mucosal changes using CBCT imaging.

## Key findings

- Mucosal thickening was observed in 63-71% of cases regardless of lesion size.
- Cortical expansion was associated with increased mucosal thickening prevalence.
- Cortical destruction was linked to decreased mucosal thickening prevalence.

## Abstract

Due to the fact that the roots of the maxillary posterior teeth are relatively close to the sinus floor, maxillary sinusitis is frequently caused by odontogenic infections. Mucosal thickness may result from the periapical pathology spreading to the sinuses. This study uses cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to assess the relationship between maxillary sinus mucosal alterations and periapical diseases of maxillary posterior teeth.

CBCT images were used in this study to assess 302 maxillary posterior teeth with periapical pathologies. Changes in the sinus mucosa were used to measure the proximity the roots and upper border of the lesion to the sinus floor. The CBCT periapical index was used to measure and score the size of the periapical lesion. Analysis was done on the type, pattern, and severity of mucosal thickening, which was considered abnormal if it exceeded 2 mm. Chi-squared tests were used to process the data, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was established.

The study used CBCT to investigate mucosal thickening. Results showed mucosal thickening in 63-71% of cases across various CBCT periapical indexes, with no significant differences among indexes. Significant differences were observed in relation to cortical expansion and destruction, with the thickening being more prevalent in cases with cortical expansion and less in those with destruction.

This study using CBCT reveals significant insights into mucosal thickening, with a prevalence observed in most cases. Cortical expansion increases prevalence, while cortical destruction decreases it. Findings guide effective diagnosis and treatment planning.