Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg.

2004; 33: 382388

doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2003.10.012, available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com

Research and Emerging Technologies

Anatomy
H. H. Kwak1, H. D. Park1, H. R. Yoon2,
Topographic anatomy of the M. K. Kang1, K. S. Koh3, H. J. Kim1
1
Division in Anatomy, Department of Oral
Biology, College of Dentistry, Oral Science

inferior wall of the maxillary Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project for
Medical Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul,
South Korea; 2Department of Dental

sinus in Koreans Radiology, College of Dentistry, Oral Science

Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul,
South Korea; 3Department of Anatomy,
College of Medicine, Konkuk University,
Chung-Ju, South Korea
H. H. Kwak, H. D. Park, H. R. Yoon, M. K. Kang, K. S. Koh, H. J.
Kim:Topographic anatomy of the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus in Koreans.
Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2004; 33: 382388. # 2004 International
Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
All rights reserved.

Abstract. Knowledge of the relationship between the root apex and the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus are crucial for diagnosing and treating a sinus pathosis
as well as in assisting in dental implantation. Therefore, identifying the proximity
between the root apex and the inferior wall of the sinus and clarifying the cortical
thickness of the inferior wall of the sinus is essential for determining the
topography of a spreading dental infection into the maxillary sinus. Accordingly,
knowledge of the topography between the root apex and the inferior wall of
maxillary sinus is important for diagnosing and planning dental implantation,
endodontic procedures, and orthodontic treatment. This study was undertaken to
clarify the morphological and clinical characteristics of the maxillary sinus,
particularly the inferior wall of the sinus in Koreans, and to identify the
relationship between the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus and the roots of the
maxillary teeth. Twenty-four sides of the maxillae of hemi-sectioned Korean
heads were used in this study. All specimens were decalcificated and sectioned
coronally. On the sectioned specimens, 21 items were measured using an image
analyzing system. The distances between the each root apex and the inferior wall
of the maxillary sinus were measured. The distance from the root apex to the
inferior wall of the sinus was the shortest in the second molar area and the
longest in the first premolar area. The thickness of the cortical plate of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus was thinnest in the first premolar area but it was
thickest in the second premolar area. The vertical relationship between the inferior
wall and the roots of the maxillary molars was classified into five types. Type I
(the inferior wall of the sinus located above the level connecting the buccal and
lingual root apices) dominated (54.5% in the first molar area, 52.4% in the second
molar area). The horizontal relationship between the inferior wall of the sinus and
the root apex was classified into three types. Type 2 (the alveolar recess of the
inferior wall of the sinus was located between the buccal and lingual roots) was
Key words: inferior wall; maxillary sinus;
most common (80% in the first and second molar area). Overall, this study maxillary teeth; root apex; measurement;
demonstrated the many anatomical characteristics and determined the relationships Korean.
between the maxillary sinus and their surrounding structures. These findings may
have an impact on the clinical management of patients. Accepted for publication 5 October 2003

0901-5027/040382 + 07 $30.00/0 # 2004 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 The inferior wall of the maxillary sinus 383

An anatomical description and the rela- lution bone algorithm, 15 cm field view, after CT scanning. The decalcification
tionship between the root apex of the 200 mA, 120 kV, a scanning time of 1 s solution was prepared in aluminum
maxillary tooth and the inferior wall of and a slice thickness of 1 mm was used chloride hexahydrate (Al2Cl3
6H2O) 7 g,
the maxillary sinus are essential for to obtain the axial images from the 8.5 ml 30% hydrochloric acid and 5 ml
diagnosing sinus pathoses and planning maxillary occlusal plane to the inferior 100% formic acid, which was, which were
a proper dental implantation. Therefore, margin of the orbit. The axial images then diluted to 100 ml with distilled water.
identifying the degree of the proximity were reformatted using DentaScan soft- After decalcification, the specimens were
as well as the cortical thickness between ware (GE Medical System, Milwaukee, neutralized for 23 days in a neutraliza-
the root apex and the inferior wall of USA), and the reformatted cross-sec- tion solution prepared from 5 g sodium
the sinus is useful for surgical proce- tional images were used to make a sulfate in 100 ml distilled water. Subse-
dures. In addition, knowing the topogra- radiographic evaluation of the inferior quently, the specimens were sectioned
phy of the inferior wall of the maxillary wall of the maxillary sinus. through the long axis of the dental crown
sinus is important for understanding the All the specimens were decalcified in and root in accordance with the scout
path of a dental infection in endodontic 40 L decalcification solution for 47 days view of the DentaScan images. Images
procedures.
The inferior wall of the maxillary
sinus, which is curved rather than flat,
is formed by the lower third of the
medial wall and the buccoalveolar wall.
The topography of the inferior wall
with the maxillary root apices varies
according to an individuals age, size
and the degree of pneumatization of
the maxillary sinus and the state of
dental retention8.
The first and second molar roots are
most commonly in close proximity to the
inferior wall of the maxillary sinus, and
occasionally the maxillary canine root
also encroaches upon the sinus3. In addi-
tion, the projecting roots, which cause
irregularities in the inferior wall of the
maxillary sinus irregular, are usually
separated from it by various bone thick-
nesses, but they are sometimes separated
by the sinus mucosa alone10. A periapical
or periodontal infection of the upper pre-
molars and molars can spread to the max-
illary sinus2, and endodontic therapy or
an extraction of these teeth can result in
penetration. Moreover, it is known that
the relationship between the dental roots
and the inferior wall of the sinus can
influence the movement of an orthodontic
tooth4,11.
The aim of this study was to clarify
the morphological and clinical character-
istics of the maxillary sinus, in particular
the inferior wall of the sinus in Koreans,
and to identify the relationship between
the inferior wall of the sinus and the
roots of the maxillary teeth.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three sides of the maxillae from
Korean heads (19 males, 14 females,
average age 55.8 years) were used in
this study. Computed tomography (GE
Medical System, Milwaukee, USA) was
used to image all the specimens.
For the reformatted CT images, CT
HiSpeed Advantage (GE Medical Sys- Fig. 1. Illustrations showing parameters no. 121 measured on the sectioned specimens. For
tem, Milwaukee, USA) with a high-reso- definitions, see Materials and Methods.
384 Kwak et al.

of the each section were then taken using
a scanner (hp ScanJet 6100c, HP Co.,
USA).
Measurements between the inferior wall
of the maxillary sinus and the dental
roots on the sectioned specimens
Twenty-one items on the images of the
sections were measured using an image
analyzing system (Image-Pro1 Plus, ver.
4.0, Media Cybernetics, USA) after a
standard calibration. The measurement
items are as follows (Fig. 1):
1. The maximum width between the
buccal and the palatal alveolar plates.
2. The horizontal distance between the
midpoint of the palatal root and the
palatal alveolar plate.
3. The horizontal distance between the
apex of the palatal root and the
palatal alveolar plate.
4. The shortest distance between the
apex of the palatal root and the
inferior wall of the maxillary sinus.
5. The horizontal distance between the
midpoint of the buccal root and the
buccal alveolar plate.
6. The horizontal distance between the
apex of the buccal root and the
buccal alveolar plate.
7. The shortest distance between the
apex of the buccal root and the
inferior wall of the maxillary sinus.
8. The distance between the apices of
the palatal and the buccal roots.
9. The horizontal distance between the
midpoint of the mesiobuccal root and
the buccal alveolar plate.
10. The horizontal distance between the
apex of the mesiobuccal root and the
buccal alveolar plate.
11. The shortest distance between
the apex of the mesiobuccal root
and the inferior wall of the maxillary
sinus.
12. The horizontal distance between the
midpoint of the distobuccal root and
the buccal alveolar plate.
13. The horizontal distance between
the apex of the distobuccal root and
the buccal alveolar plate.
14. The shortest distance between
the apex of the distobuccal root and
the inferior wall of the maxillary
sinus.
15. The distance between the apices of
the palatal and mesiobuccal roots.
16. The distance between the apices of
the palatal and distobuccal roots.
17. The cortical thickness of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus nearest
the apex of the palatal root.
18. The cortical thickness of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus closest to
the apex of the buccal root.
19. The cortical thickness of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus closest to
the apex of the mesiobuccal root.
20. The cortical thickness of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus closest to
the apex of the distobuccal root.
21. The cortical thickness of the inferior
wall of the maxillary sinus closest to
the furcation area.
The statistical significance of the
correlation between the measurement
items was calculated using correlation
analysis (SAS ver. 6.12, SAS Institute
Inc., Cary, NC, USA). A P-value P <
0:05 was considered statistically signifi-
cant.
Positional relationships between the
inferior wall of the maxillary sinus and
maxillary molar roots on the DentaScan
images compared with the sectioned
specimens
Using the DentaScan reformatted cross-
sectioned images (GE Medical Systems,
Milwaukee, USA), the vertical relation-
ships between the inferior wall of the
maxillary sinus and the roots of the

Table 1. Measurements between the maxillary posterior teeth and the adjacent anatomical structures (mm)
No. of items
1 2 3 4 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21
Maxillary first molar
n 19 22 22 22 15 17 18 18 19 19 12 19 21 18 19 22
Mean 14.81 2.52 5.27 3.87 1.82 3.39 3.01 1.80 3.30 3.53 9.04 8.81 0.51 0.42 0.53 0.61
SD 1.52 1.07 1.90 2.91 0.96 1.50 2.82 0.85 1.82 2.88 1.14 1.76 0.31 0.28 0.36 0.24
Max. 17.01 4.40 9.57 9.37 3.84 6.93 11.14 2.92 8.12 9.45 11.09 11.57 1.31 0.91 1.25 1.35
Min. 12.47 0.90 2.75 0.00 0.39 0.86 0.00 0.23 0.71 0.00 6.99 4.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.26
Maxillary second molar
n 17 21 21 21 15 16 17 15 16 17 13 16 21 17 17 21
Mean 15.19 2.56 4.44 3.40 3.01 5.48 2.82 2.76 4.48 2.74 5.36 6.40 0.46 0.40 0.37 0.58
SD 1.54 0.77 1.64 3.06 1.07 1.66 3.08 0.78 1.29 3.23 2.11 2.43 0.20 0.25 0.29 0.16
Max. 17.35 4.25 8.69 9.85 4.73 7.76 10.84 4.64 7.26 11.00 9.23 9.79 0.74 0.89 0.98 0.93
Min. 11.40 1.20 1.70 0.00 1.00 1.24 0.00 1.69 2.58 0.00 2.70 3.37 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.34
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 17 18 21
Maxillary first premolar
n 18 21 21 10 21 21 3 12 8 3 3
Mean 11.15 3.79 8.54 6.27 1.28 1.99 5.72 3.57 0.50 0.44 0.52
SD 1.52 1.06 1.96 5.16 0.91 1.10 5.22 1.66 0.26 0.38 0.47
Max. 13.93 5.71 12.14 14.44 3.51 4.45 10.24 6.74 0.78 0.68 0.90
Min. 8.51 2.49 5.58 0.00 0.00 0.42 0.00 1.34 0.00 0.00 0.00
Maxillary second premolar
n 19 20 19 18 18 20 3 3 18 3 3
Mean 11.06 3.80 9.81 4.82 2.08 3.50 4.37 3.14 0.55 0.76 0.77
SD 1.87 1.82 2.81 4.25 0.83 1.39 3.43 1.65 0.31 0.28 0.33
Max. 13.74 9.18 15.21 13.54 3.43 5.76 7.65 4.70 1.17 1.01 1.13
Min. 7.63 1.46 3.91 0.00 0.63 1.64 0.82 1.41 0.00 0.46 0.50
n: number of the samples, SD: standard deviation, Max.: maximum, Min.: minimum.
For abbreviations, see Materials and Methods.
 The inferior wall of the maxillary sinus 385

maxillary molars were classified into

five categories (Fig. 2).
Type I: The inferior wall of the sinus
was located above the level connecting
the buccal and palatal root apices.
Type II: The inferior wall of the sinus
was located below the level connecting
the buccal and palatal root apices, Fig. 2. Schematic illustrations of the five classifications of the vertical relationship between the
without an apical protrusion over the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus and the roots of the maxillary molars (B: buccal, P: palatal).
inferior wall of sinus.
Type III: An apical protrusion of the
buccal root apex was observed over the
inferior wall of the sinus.
Type IV: An apical protrusion of the
palatal root apex was observed over the
inferior wall of the sinus.
Type V: Apical protrusions of the Fig. 3. Schematic illustrations of the three classifications of the horizontal relationship between the
buccal and palatal root apices were inferior wall of the maxillary sinus and the roots of the maxillary molars (B: buccal, P: palatal).
observed over the inferior wall of the
sinus.

In addition, the horizontal relation-

ships between the inferior wall of the
maxillary sinus and the roots of the
maxillary molars were classified into
three categories (Fig. 3).
Type 1: The alveolar recess of the
inferior wall of the sinus was located
more towards the buccal side than
towards the buccal root.
Type 2: The alveolar recess of the
inferior wall of the sinus was located
between the buccal and palatal roots.
Type 3: The alveolar recess of the
inferior wall of the sinus was located
more towards the palatal side than
towards the palatal root.

All these vertical and horizontal rela-

tionships of the inferior wall of the max-
illary sinus were compared with the
sectioned specimens.

Results

Topographies and measurements

between the inferior wall of the maxillary
sinus and the maxillary dental roots on
the sectioned specimens
The results of all measurements on the
sectioned specimens are shown in
Table 1. The width between the buccal
and the palatal alveolar plates (item no. 1)
was a maximum at the second molar
area (15:19  1:54 mm) and a minimum
at the first premolar area (11:15 
1:52 mm). The horizontal distance
between the apex of the buccal root and
the buccal alveolar plate (items no. 6,
10, 13) was longest at the second molar
area (mesiobuccal root area; 5:48  Fig. 4. Classifications of vertical relationship between the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus
1:66 mm, distobuccal root area; 4:48  and the roots of the maxillary molars (B: buccal, P: palatal).
386 Kwak et al.

1:29 mm) and shortest at the first premo-
lar area (1:99  1:10 mm).
At the maxillary first premolar, the
shortest distances from the apices of
the buccal (item no. 7) and palatal (item
no. 4) roots to the inferior wall of the
maxillary sinus were 5.72 (minimum
0 mmmaximum 10.24 mm) and 6.27
(014.44 mm), respectively. In addition,
the cortical thicknesses of the in-
ferior wall of the sinus nearest the
apices of the buccal (item no. 18) and
palatal (item no. 17) roots were 0.44
(00.68 mm) and 0.50 (00.78 mm),
respectively.
The shortest distance between the
apex of the palatal root of the second
premolar and the inferior wall of the
maxillary sinus (item no. 4) was 4.82
(013.54 mm), and the cortical thickness
of the inferior wall of the sinus in
this region (item no. 17) was 0.55
(01.17 mm).
At the maxillary first molar area, the
shortest distances between the apices of
each root and the inferior wall of the
sinus were 3.01 (011.14 mm) on the
mesiobuccal root (item no. 11), 3.53 (0
1.25 mm) on the distobuccal root (item
no. 14) and 3.87 (09.37 mm) on the
palatal root (item no. 4). In addition, the
cortical thickness of the inferior wall of
the maxillary sinus nearest to the apices
of the mesiobuccal (item no. 19), disto-
buccal (item no. 20) and palatal (item
no. 17) roots was 0.42 (00.91 mm), 0.53
(01.25 mm) and 0.51 (01.31 mm),
respectively.
At the maxillary second molar area,
the shortest distances between the apices
of each root and the inferior wall of the
sinus were 2.82 (010.84 mm) on the
mesiobuccal root (item no. 11), 2.74 (0
11.00 mm) on the distobuccal root (item
no. 14) and 3.40 (09.85 mm) on the
palatal (item no. 4) root. Moreover, the
cortical thickness of the inferior wall of
the maxillary sinus closest to the apices
of the mesiobuccal (item no. 19), disto-
buccal (item no. 20) and palatal (item
no. 17) roots was 0.40 (00.89 mm), 0.37
(00.98 mm) and 0.46 (00.74 mm),
respectively.
Table 2. Incidences and classifications of the Table 3. Incidences and classifications of the
vertical relationship between the inferior wall horizontal relationship between the inferior
of the maxillary sinus and the roots of the wall of the maxillary sinus and the roots of
maxillary molars the maxillary molars
Maxillary Maxillary Maxillary Maxillary
Classifications first molar second molar Classifications first molar second molar
I 12 (54.5%) 11 (52.4%) 1 2 (20.0%) 2 (20.0%)
II 4 (18.3%) 6 (28.6%) 2 8 (80.0%) 8 (80.0%)
III 1 (4.5%) 3 (14.2%) 3 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)
IV 3 (13.6%) 0 (0%)
Numerical is the number of samples ob-
V 2 (9.1%) 1 (4.8%)
served.
Numerical is the number of samples ob-
served.
reported in methods). At the first and
second molar, Type 2 was most com-
categories (Figs 2 and 4). At the first mon in 8 cases (80%). However, Type 3
molar, Type I (description reported in was absent (Fig. 5, Table 3). These
the Method section) was observed in 12 vertical and horizontal relationships
out of 22 cases (54.5%) (Table 2), Type between the inferior wall of the maxil-
II was observed in 4 cases (18.3%), and lary sinus and the roots of the maxillary
Type III, Type IV and Type V were molar on the DentaScan images were
observed in 1 (4.5%), 3 (13.6%) and 2 compared and then verified with each
cases (9.1%), respectively (Fig. 4). sectioned specimen (Figs. 4 and 5).
At the second molar, Type I was most
common in 11 out of all 21 cases
Discussion
(52.4%), and Type II was found in 6
cases (28.6%) (Table 2). The root apices of the maxillary molars
Furthermore, horizontal relationships are generally located closer to the infer-
between the inferior wall of the maxil- ior wall of the maxillary sinus than
lary sinus and the roots of the maxillary those of the premolars. In addition, the
molars were classified into three cate- lowest area of the inferior wall of the
gories (Figs. 3 and 5, with description maxillary sinus is known as the second

Positional relationships between the

inferior wall of the maxillary sinus and
the maxillary molar roots on the
DentaScan images compared with the
sectioned specimens
On the DentaScan images, the vertical
relationships between the inferior wall
of the sinus and the roots of the maxil- Fig. 5. Classifications of horizontal relationship between the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus
lary molars were classified into five and the roots of the maxillary molars (B: buccal, P: palatal).
 The inferior wall of the maxillary sinus 387

molar area9. EBERHARDT et al.1 reported

that the average distance from the root
apices of the maxillary premolars and
molars to the inferior wall of the maxil-
lary sinus ranged from 0.83 mm on the
mesiobuccal root of the second molar to
7.05 mm on the palatal root of the first
premolar. However, in this study, the
apex of the distobuccal root of the sec-
ond molar was closest to the inferior
wall (average 2.74 mm) and the palatal
root of the first premolar was farthest
from the inferior wall of the maxillary
sinus (average 6.27 mm) (Table 1).
Together with the inferior wall thick-
ness of the maxillary sinus, knowledge
of the cortical thickness of the buccal
and palatal alveolar plates are crucial in
apical surgery and dental implantation.
The distance between the apex of the
buccal root and the buccal alveolar plate Fig. 6. Bar graph showing the cortical thickness of the inferior walls of the maxillary sinus
was the shortest at the first premolar nearest of the apices of each root area. P, palatal root area; B, buccal root area; M, mesiobuccal
area (average 1.99 mm), and that on the root area; D, distobuccal root area; F, furcation area.
mesiobuccal root was longest at the sec-
ond molar area (average 5.48 mm). tance between the apex of the palatal the hard palate, occasionally within a
These results show that the maximum and the distobuccal roots (item no. 16) few millimeters of the median sagittal
width between the buccal and the palatal and the maximum width between the plane and can project into the maxillary
alveolar plate was longest at the second buccal and the palatal alveolar plates sinus if the orbital process of the pala-
molar area (average 15.19 mm), and (item no. 1) showed a positive correla- tine bone reaches the sinus7. In this
shortest at the first premolar area (aver- tion (P < 0:05). On the other hand, the study, the vertical and horizontal rela-
age 11.52 mm). distance from the apex of the buccal tionships between the inferior wall of
HARRISON5,6 reported that the inferior root to the buccal alveolar plate (items the maxillary sinus and the maxillary
wall of the maxillary sinus had a mini- no. 10 and 13) and the shortest distance molars were classified. According to the
mum thickness of 0.5 mm over the first from the apex of the buccal root to the vertical relationship (Table 2), Type I
premolar in 5% of cases, over the sec- inferior wall of the sinus (items no. 11 was more common in both the first and
ond premolar in 20% of cases, over the and 14) exhibited a negative correlation second molars. On the other hand, Type
first molar in 27% of cases, over the (P < 0:05). IV occurred more often in the maxillary
second molar in 46% of cases and over The maxillary sinus has recesses first molar than Type III. However, there
the 3rd molar in 30% of cases. In this including the palatine, infraorbital, prela- were no Type IV cases in the second
study, the cortical thickness over the dis- crimal, zygomatic and alveolar recess. molar, and Type III was observed in
tobuccal root of the second molar was The palatine recess can extend towards only three cases (14.2%).
the thinnest (average 0.37 mm), and the
furcation area of the second premolar
was the thickest (average 0.77 mm)
(Table 1, Fig. 6). Furthermore, the dis-
tances between the apices of the roots of
the maxillary posterior teeth and the
inferior wall of the maxillary sinus had
a tendency to reduce towards the poster-
ior (Fig. 7). The thickness of the inferior
wall of the sinus and its relationship
with the adjacent teeth is important for
determining the prognosis of orthodontic
tooth movement. These results will pro-
vide a more appropriate basis for con-
trolling orthodontic tooth movement and
forecasting the degree of tooth move-
ment during an orthodontic procedure.
Assessing the anatomical correlation
between the dental roots, the alveolar
bone and the alveolar recess is limited
using conventional radiographic techni- Fig. 7. Bar graph showing the distances between the apices of the maxillary posterior tooth roots
ques. The correlation between the items and the inferior wall of the sinus. p, palatal root; b, buccal root; mb, mesiobuccal root; db,
measured is shown in Table 4. The dis- distobuccal root.
388 Kwak et al.

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