Journal of Dental Medicine

  Background and Aims: It is crucial to verify the relationship between root apices and maxillary sinus floor in some surgical procedures like extraction and implant placement or in orthodontic movements like intrusion. Protrusion of roots into the sinus increases the risk of post extraction pneumatization which in turn decreases the available bone at the implant or denture sites. The aim of this study was to determine the panoramic radiology accuracy for defining the relationship between posterior root apices and the maxillary sinus floor by Cone Beam CT (CBCT).

  Materials and Methods: Paired panoramic radiographs and CBCT images of 117 subjects were examined. 452 posterior maxillary roots including second premolar, first and second molar were classified by the means of the relationship with maxillary sinus floor. CBCT was used as Gold standard method, and the agreement of panoramic findings with CBCT was examined statistically. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Multiple logistic regressions.

  Results: Agreement of the panoramic and CBCT results were seen in 57.7% of all cases. Roots which had no contacts with the sinus floor (class 0) showed a high agreement of 89.5% between two imaging techniques. Roots in contact with sinus floor (class 1) showed 58.8 % and cases with root protrusion into sinus cavity (class 3, 4) showed 50% of agreement (P<0.001). Also in 36% of cases with no protrusion into the sinus cavity (class 0, 1, 2), panoramic showed protrusion. The agreement for the premolar was higher than molars (P<0.001)

  Conclusion: The majority of roots which their images were projected on the sinus cavity had no vertical protrusion in CBCT cuts. Considering the results, in these cases CBCT can be recommended.

  Background and Aims: There is a risk of nerve injury during the extraction of the impacted third molars, in cases with proximity of the inferior alveolar nerve and this tooth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different various factors on the degree of vulnerability using CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) imaging technique.

  Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 191 patients referred for the exact assessment of the relationship between the mandibular canal and impacted mandibular third molars were selected. The position of these anatomical structures was evaluated at their contact point. The possible effect of gender, impaction form of the third molars, anatomical relationship between the third molars and the mandibular canal and the age differences were studied. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Student’s t-test.

  Results: There was a close relationship between the mandibular canal and impacted third molars in 81.7% of the patients. The contacts were shown to be significantly higher in females than males (P=0.01) and in the cases with the lingually position of the third molar and the mandibular canal (P<0.001). However, the age and impaction form of the teeth did not have a significant influence (P>0.05).

  Conclusion: The risk of nerve damage or exposure is increased in females and lingual position of the mandibular canal to the third molar in cases with higher proximity between these 2 structures in panoramic radiographs using CBCT images. Therefore, the surgeon must pay enough attention in these cases of third molar extraction.