Relationship between thickness of the schneiderian membrane and dental findings: A retrospective CBCT study

Background: The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between dental findings and mucosal abnormalities of the maxillary sinus among dental patients, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: Two hundred forty-nine CBCT scans of dental patients were studied. The correlation between changes in the maxillary sinus including the change in the thickness of maxillary sinus membrane (Schneiderian membrane), presence of underwood’s septa, presence of mucosal cyst, presence of air or fluid in sinus indicating sinusitis and dental findings including periodontal bone loss, periapical lesion, root canal treated teeth was assessed. Comparison of mean of outcome variables between the groups was done using t- test (for 2 groups) & one-way ANOVA for > 2 groups. Comparison of frequencies between various categories of each variable was done using chi square test. Results: Mucosal thickening was present in 37.3% of patients and in 74.3% of sinuses studied. Mucosal cysts were present in 7.2% of patients and in 7.2% of sinuses studied. Males presented both abnormalities more frequently than females. Severe periodontal bone loss was non-significantly associated with mucosal thickening (P>0.05). The periapical lesions and root canal fillings were not associated with mucosal thickening. There was a slight positive correlation observed between number of Underwood’s septae with mucosal thickness (but statistically non-significant, p>0.05). There was no association between dental findings and mucosal cysts. Conclusion: This study showed that mucosal cysts and mucosal thickening was common among general population. There was no statistically significant correlation between presence of periodontitis and increase in mucosal thickness.