Morphometric Analysis of the Maxillary Sinus and Its Implications for Sinus Augmentation Surgery in an Eastern Indian Population

Abstract

Introduction Sinus augmentation surgery, also called sinus graft or lift, involves elevating the Schneiderian membrane in the posterior maxilla to enhance alveolar bone height by placing a bone graft or osteogenic materials. This procedure is commonly performed to support dental implants. This study evaluates the morphometry of the maxillary sinus across different age groups within the Eastern Indian population and its implications for sinus augmentation surgery. Methods We analysed 85 patients (55 males (64.7%) and 30 females (35.3%)) who underwent computed tomography scans, assessing key parameters such as residual bone height, lateral wall thickness, medial wall thickness, and the sinus angle. Data were summarised and presented as mean ± SD for continuous variables and frequencies for categorical data. Inferential tests were used to analyse the parameters, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results Our findings indicate that 56.47% (n=48) of patients had a residual bone height of ≤5 mm, necessitating sinus augmentation surgery before dental implantation. While lateral wall thickness was an important factor in selecting the appropriate surgical approach, with 16.67% (n=8) requiring the lateral window technique and 83.34% (n=40) better suited for the crestal approach, no significant gender differences were observed. However, the need for sinus augmentation surgery was more common in the 21-40 age group (p=0.008). Notably, left-side residual bone height was significantly lower than right-side residual bone height, indicating lateral asymmetry. Conclusion This study emphasizes the importance of maxillary sinus morphometry in optimizing sinus augmentation surgery techniques tailored to individual anatomical variations to improve surgical outcomes in the Eastern Indian population.

Keywords: lateral wall thickness; maxillary sinus; morphometry; residual bone height; sinus augmentation surgery.

Figure 1. CT section showing the measurement of residual bone height (RBH) in the right maxillary sinus. The RBH is measured as the vertical distance from the alveolar ridge crest to the lowest point of the sinus floor in the coronal section.

Figure 2. CT section showing the measurement of medial wall thickness (MWT) and lateral wall thickness (LWT) in the left maxillary sinus. Additionally, the sinus angle in the right maxillary sinus is measured in the coronal section, showing the angle formed by the intersection of the medial and lateral walls.