Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the odontogenic factors that can cause maxillary sinus pathologies and to evaluate the usability of cone beam computed tomography for this purpose.
Material and methods: In our study, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 200 patients who applied to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology of Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry for various reasons were retrospectively scanned to determine the relationship between the presence of maxillary sinus pathology and odontogenic factors. Maxillary sinus pathologies; mucosal thickening, mucus retention cyst, sinusitis, polyp and anthrolite. Cases with a sinus mucosa thickness of 2 mm or more were considered pathological. Odontogenic factors; chronic apical lesion, marginal bone loss, oro-antral fistula, restorative applications, root canal treatment, implant, impacted tooth and residual root. SPSS was used in the analysis of the data and p< .05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of maxillary sinus pathology was 96% in 192 of 200 patients. The most common maxillary sinus pathology in both maxillary sinuses was mucosal thickening. The most rare maxillary sinus pathology was antrolite. While right maxillary sinus pathology differed according to gender (p= 0.02), there was no relationship between left maxillary sinus pathology and gender (p=0.1). Odontogenic factors were present in 182 patients (91%). There were 175 patients (87.5%) with both odontogenic factors and maxillary sinus pathologies. There was a statistically significant correlation between mucosal thickening and chronic periapical periodontitis (p=0.004). A statistically significant correlation was found between sinusitis and oroantral relationship (p=0.0001). A statistically significant correlation was found between anthrolite and residual root (p=0.04).
Conclusion: Periodontal diseases, chronic apical periodontitis, restorative procedures, residual roots close to the maxillary sinus region are associated with maxillary sinus pathologies. With its low radiation dose and high spatial resolution, CBCT can help determine the odontogenic etiology in maxillary sinusitis pathologies.